PPA completes P313.15M
projects in first 9 months
THE Philippine Ports Authority
(PPA) has completed P313.15 million in locally-funded
port projects, while expenses for ongoing construction
have reached P1.48 billion as of the first nine
months of the year.
The port agency said most of the
completed projects are in the country's major
outports. These include the reefer rack structure
and power house project at Davao (II) port; reclamation
and widening of causeway at Tubigon port; reclamation
with roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) on fill at Malangas
port.
Also completed were the extension
of reinforced concrete (R.C.) pier and construction
of ro-ro ramp at Roxas port; and extension of
R.C. wharves at the ports of Puerto Princesa and
Coron in Palawan.
PPA noted among the ports nearing completion as
of the third quarter are the marine slipway berth
improvement at the North Harbor, already 96.15%
complete; and the R.C. pier and reclamation at
Dumangas port, 94.37% complete.
The North Harbor modernization has
already incurred a whopping P422.24 million in
expenses to date, while that of the 80.36% complete
wharf at the Pulupandan port has reached P275.25
million.
Projects are also ongoing at the
ports of Abra de Ilog (construction of breakwater,
ro-ro ramp and R.C. platform and installation
of port lighting system, P29.14 million); Bislig
(port development, P10.83 million); Caticlan (construction
of R.C. pier, ro-ro ramp, reclamation, breasting
dolphin and installation of port lighting system,
P18.08 million); Dalahican (reclamation and access
road, P143.10 million); Dapitan (port expansion,
P88.48 million); General Santos (reefer rack structure
and power house, P6.58 million); Iloilo (improvement
of river wharf, P36.48 million); Larena (reclamation,
wharf extension and road pavement, P62.96 million);
Nasipit (wharf extension, P84.81 million).
Pagadian (reclamation and extension
of R.C. wharf, P24.14 million); Pantao (construction
of ro-ro ramp and reclamation, P70.98 million);
Pasacao ( reclamation and additional back-up area,
P33.87 million); Pola (construction of R.C. pier,
ro-ro ramp, reclamation, causeway breasting dolphins
and port lighting system, P23.36 million); Tacloban
(reclamation and construction of R.C. wharf, P65.83
million); and Tagbilaran (port expansion, P27.26
million).
Meanwhile, PPA said it has suspended
the construction of a transit shed at the port
of Davao - already 53.97% complete - due to some
legal wranglings related to residents around the
area. Expenses have reached P42.92 million to
date.
On dredging operations from January
to September, the port regulator disclosed F.F.
Cruz & Co., Inc., the dredging contractor
under the privatized setup, has already accomplished
the removal of 2.390 million cubic meters of silt.
These were taken from dredging projects at the
South Harbor entrance channel and fairway leading
to Pier 15; Manila International Container Terminal
entrance channel; Piers 2, 6 and Marine Slipway
of North Harbor; Iloilo river fairway (phases
1 & 2); and the ports of Roxas and Caticlan
in Mindoro.
PPA also noted expenses for repair
and maintenance of port facilities as of end-September
has reached P97.21 million. Of the 86 repair and
maintenance projects for the year, 22 were completed,
nine are ongoing and the rest have not yet started.
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Growth in port sector seen amid
economic setbacks
PROSPECTS for the country's international ports
are promising in the long term despite the current
downtrend in the economy. This is according to
former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dr. Cielito
Habito in last week's PortCalls - organized
Cargo Economics Conference.
He said the availability of efficient port services
and facilities can help regional economic centers
connect to the global community which, in the
long run, can stimulate growth.
Habito said ports like those in Batangas, Subic
and Cagayan de Oro will continue to grow as long
as efficient operations are in place.
He noted what hinders the potential growth is
the lack of access of the country's international
ports to the world market due to existing policies
that prevent the entry of foreign investments.
"There is a need to amend the existing policies
that discourage businessmen to inject more investments
in our country," Habito said, adding the
Philippines should not expect investments to pour
in with this kind of a setup.
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PHILPESTA pushes urgent privatization
of PSTC
THE Philippine Petroleum Sea Transport Association
(PHILPESTA) is pushing for the privatization as
soon as possible of the state-run company Philippine
National Oil Co. (PNOC) Shipping and Transport
Corp. (PSTC).
In a letter to the Privatization Council (PrC),
an attached agency of the Department of Finance
(DOF), the group said the privatization process
must no longer be delayed since PSTC has been
given since 1995 to enhance its value.
PHILPESTA stressed privatization of non-profitable
government-owned corporations must be persistently
pushed now more than ever in view of the country's
current fiscal crisis. "The government needs
to increase revenues and reduce its persistent
budget deficits," it said.
Since 1997, the company has accumulated losses
amounting to P9.8 million, according to the group.
Its retained earnings dropped to only P93.5 million
in end-2002 from P208.1 million in 1997. Also,
cash and cash equivalents were depleted to only
P100.6 million in 2002 from P177.6 million in
1997.
PHILPESTA said PSTC's preferred mode of vessel
acquisition - bareboat chartering - also does
not contribute to the expansion of the Philippine
tanker fleet since the ownership stays with the
foreign operator.
Recently, the PrC in response to the tankers
association's clamor, ordered the PSTC to formulate
and submit immediately its privatization plan
to the DOF. Many private companies have expressed
interest in acquiring the company, which handles
the bulk of Petron and the National Power Corporation's
requirements.
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Ship agents wants say on port
development initiatives
The Philippine Ship Agents Association (PSAA)
is urging the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
to ensure that all port stakeholders are being
consulted on port development projects.
An official from the association said there were
some PPA-facilitated projects launched without
consultation with parties concerned. The P200-million
Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) for the
port of Manila is one such program, he said. The
VTMS is a monitoring facility for marine vessel
movement covering vessels coming and going in
the North and South Harbors in Manila. The radar
station, though, would be set up in Corregidor.
He said the ship agents commend PPA, but noted
it failed to clarify some issues, particularly
costs, once the system is already operational.
The ship agents fear that the PPA may charge
additional fees to recover costs incurred to put
the system in place.
"We cannot afford more costs, considering
how tough it is to make money these days,"
he said, noting that the additional costs will
have a domino effect on the entire industry eventually
resulting in increased prices of consumer products.
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