The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) launched on Tuesday, July 9, five major projects to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the agency, including a K-9 Academy in Pampanga and a cruise ship terminal in Surigao del Norte.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the projects are the agency’s way of giving back to the public the positive results of the aggressive reforms that led to the Philippines’ vital ports and harbors being dubbed as one of the strongest ports in Southeast Asia.
“Over the years, PPA has been involved in various port expansion and modernization projects aimed at improving the efficiency and the capacity of the Philippine Ports. PPA takes pride in commemorating five decades of dedicated service in facilitating maritime connectivity across the Philippine islands and to the world,” said Santiago.
Amid the adverse effects of the Covid-19 lockdowns, the PPA was among the government agencies which recorded a great rebound in terms of dividend remittance.
In 2023 for instance, Santiago said the PPA made history with its highest dividend remittance at P5.06 billion.
This made the PPA taking the 4th spot among the top Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) contributors in the country every year consistently.
The 2023 record underscored a trend of increasing dividend hikes by the PPA starting from 2016 with P1.96 billion, followed by P3.10 billion in 2017, P3.52 billion in 2018, a record-high of P5.05 billion in 2019, P3.76 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a rebound to P4.08
“The PPA is giving back to the public another five more projects this 2024 in addition to the hundreds of projects it created since the agency's inception in 1974,” said Santiago.
The projects
One of the projects launched was the PP-Philippine Coast Guard K9 Academy in Pampanga which was established to assist the PCG by providing a dedicated academy equipped with comprehensive facilities, including training centers, living quarters, and other amenities.
“This project is expected to significantly contribute to the community by producing a greater number of trained handlers and improving overall security and efficiency at the port,” said Santiago.
Another law enforcement-related project is the Law Enforcement Building (LEB) at Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte.
Santiago said the LEB at Port of Currimao was constructed to ensure efficient cooperation between the PPA and other government agencies.
He said the LEB is a state-of-the-art facility that aims to strengthen security measures and streamline coordination among various government agencies tasked with ensuring the safety of ports and waters nationwide.
In Marinduque, Santiago said there will be an expansion of Balanacan Port in Mogpog town Marinduque to improve port facilities and accommodating the growing demands of maritime trade and commerce in the province.
In Bohol, he said the newly upgraded passenger terminal building at Port of Tubigon is now a two-story facility, capable of accommodating more than 1,000 passengers at any given time.
Santiago said the new terminal building features state-of-the-art amenities, including passenger waiting areas, baggage handling facilities, and food kiosks.
The fifth project, according to Santiago, is part of the efforts to boost Philippine tourism with the completion of the Cruise Ship Port in Port of Jubang in Surigao del Norte ushered in a new era of maritime connectivity and economic prosperity for Siargao Island and the entire province.
Brief history
The PPA was established under Presidential Decree No. 505, later amended by Presidential Decree No. 857 by former president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
The goal is for the Philippines to have a maritime agency responsible for planning, development, and management of the country's ports.
The PPA's formal 50th anniversary celebration is on July 11.