Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) posted record productivity for August and September with equipment operators achieving their monthly targets, according to port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).
MICT posted an increase in berth productivity of 22% and 13% in August and September, respectively, the port operator said in a statement.
“Management acknowledges the excellent work our prime mover, quay crane, rubber tired gantry, and stacker operators have put in to reach high berth productivity. As early as 2000, we have been rewarding our operators and, as a result, ICTSI enjoys a very low turnover rate,” MICT operations director Jay Valdez said.
“Every time we meet our monthly target, we give special citations to the 10 most productive operators per equipment category, a simple way to thank them for their hard work and dedication to ensuring MICT operates with maximum efficiency. More importantly, these individuals serve as role models for their colleagues to emulate,” he added.
For August, the most productive equipment operators were Jerwin Arce, prime mover (PM); Rolando Baysa, reach stacker and side lifter (RS/SL); Romeo Alejandro, rubber tired gantry (RTG); and Jose Dagpin, quay crane (QC); and for September, Arthur Belano (PM); Melchor Peliazar (QC); Archimeyes Concordia (RTG); and Roy Echevarra (RS/SL).
“As an inclusive business, ICTSI remains committed to the safety and welfare of our equipment operators. They put themselves at risk operating these massive machines, and it is but proper that we look after their safety and welfare,” ICTSI senior vice president and head of Asia Pacific and MICT Christian Gonzalez said.
“More than the recognition, we make our equipment operators realize that they are key in driving the Philippine economy. ICTSI management and labor work hand in hand in helping this country grow further. We also cascade the same labor strategies and share the same global standards and best practices to our global portfolio of 31 terminals in 18 countries. These have made ICTSI a major global player in the port sector,” he added.
ICTSI subsidiaries regularly send manpower to other terminals within the Group for training, secondment and other assignment overseas. This practice, considering the diversity of ICTSI’s portfolio, allows the Group to share best practices and improve the technical skills of their employees.
“One of ICTSI’s core strengths is a highly capable manpower. It’s really the key to the way we operate all of our terminal concessions worldwide. We start by bringing people in from our headquarters in Manila to jumpstart operations and train the locals who will eventually take over once everything is in place. But at the end, our goal is for each of our terminals to be run by 100 percent local manpower,” Gonzalez explained.
“Aside from the technical expertise that we pass on to our subsidiaries, we also teach them hard work and perseverance including leadership and self-improvement skills such as personal financial management. We want our employees to be empowered. Having the right work attitude, combined with the technical know-how, sets our employees apart from the rest of the industry,” he added.
