PPA creates takeover unit for San Isidro port

• The Philippine Ports Authority created a special takeover unit (STU) to operate the passenger terminal building (PTB) of San Isidro port in Northern Samar

• PTB-San Isidro Port Services will ensure continued and uninterrupted PTB services at San Isidro port, which handles ferries

• When there is no more need for the STU, the management and operations of the ports will be turned over to the winners of public biddings for new private cargo-handling service providers to be conducted by PPA

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has created a special takeover unit (STU) to operate the passenger terminal building (PTB) of San Isidro port in Northern Samar.

The PTB-San Isidro Port Services (PTB-SIPS) was created through PPA Memorandum Order (MO) No. 008-2023 dated May 3.

The creation of the STU is to ensure the continuous and uninterrupted PTB services at San Isidro port, which handles ferries. PPA last year said it will create STUs to operate busy ports that currently have no cargo-handling and terminal operators.

READ: PPA special takeover units as interim operators of unmanaged ports

PTB-SIPS took over the management, operation, and maintenance of the PTB of San Isidro port.

PTB-SIPS will be under the management, supervision, and control of the port manager of PPA port management office of Eastern Leyte/Samar and to be complemented by PPA officials and employees as may be designated by the PPA general manager.

When there is no more need for the STU, the management and operations of the ports will be turned over to the winners of public biddings for new private cargo-handling service providers to be conducted by PPA.

The creation of STUs is not new as PPA over the past years has been creating such units to take over the operation of ports when necessary, such as when the existing cargo-handling operator’s contract has expired and no operator has been selected yet.

PPA this year has also created STUs to operate the ports of Palompon in Leyte, Mabila in Sarangani, and Borongan in Eastern Samar, and the PTB of San Carlos port in Negros Occidental.