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The Philippine Ports Authority is focusing on digitization for faster and corruption-free transactions at its ports
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PPA general manager Jay Santiago said digitization “is really our highest priority now at PPA to prevent occurrence of usual problems encountered by people at the port”
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PPA through the years has been implementing digitization and digitalization programs
Digitization is a high priority for the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), general manager Jay Santiago said, noting it will bring faster and corruption-free transactions at PPA ports.
In the recently concluded Department of Transportation Strategic Planning attended by attached agencies, Santiago said, “…digitization is really our highest priority now at PPA to prevent occurrence of usual problems encountered by people at the port. Once… everything is done online, prolonged waiting of passengers will be avoided and inconvenience at trips will be prevented.”
He also emphasized the importance of expanding the agency’s “communication infrastructure for transparency and connectivity of projects and transactions across the country.”
Ensuring smooth and fast government processes to further economic development is part of the eight-point socioeconomic agenda of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, according to the National Economic and Development Authority.
“Let’s revive the economy through digitization, this is a big step for the continuous improvement of government services. We at PPA are ready to streamline every transaction at ports and eliminate third-party operators or fixers,” Santiago said.
The Department of Budget and Management has allocated P12.47B for digital transformation of all government transactions.
PPA in 2020 launched the electronic-payment portal (EPP) to digitalize collection of port charges and reduce face-to-face transactions to comply with the “new normal” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed in-house, the EPP is an upgrade of a system implemented since 2018. PPA also installed online systems for the application and issuance of accreditation, permits, and passes.
In February, PPA signed the contract with the winning bidder for its electronic terminal management system (ETMS) project featuring unified electronic ticketing capabilities. The joint venture of NextIX, Inc. and Carus Ferry Ab Ltd. was awarded the P499.9 millon project in December 2021 after it won the rebidding in October 2021.
Santiago earlier said the ETMS “will fully digitize terminal management not only in the gateway ports, particularly in the NCR, but this will be nationwide.”
PPA this year also awarded the P980-million contract for the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System (TOP-CRMS) and Empty Container Storage Shared Service Facility.
The system aims to register and monitor containers entering and leaving PPA ports, including the scheduling, loading, unloading, release, and movement of all containers. All containers will also be required to secure a container insurance policy.
Both the ETMS and TOP-CRMS are yet to be implemented.
