PPA holds second public consult on P5.87B Iloilo port project

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PPA holds second public consult on P5.87B Iloilo port project
Screenshot of Iloilo Commercial Port Complex development plan from the second public consultation called by the Philippine Ports Authority.
  • Philippine Ports Authority conducted a second public consultation on the proposed P5.87-billion Iloilo Commercial Port Complex
  • The plan calls for turning ICPC into an exclusively international port
  • Stakeholders have until August 2 to submit position papers on the project and on tariffs for Tier 1 ports

The Philippine Ports Authority conducted on July 26 a second online public consultation on the proposed P5.87-billion development plan for Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (ICPC).

At the consultation, stakeholders were presented a virtual tour of ICPC and the 25-year plan for the construction and deployment of port equipment.

Stakeholders have five working days, or until August 2, to submit their position papers on the proposed development as well as on tariffs eyed for Tier 1 category ports, of which Iloilo is part.

The first online public consult on June 21 tackled capital outlay projects worth P4.61 billion and major equipment costing P1.26 billion.

During that session, PPA Commercial Services Department manager Mark Jon Palomar revealed plans to turn ICPC into an exclusively international port, with domestic cargoes later coursed through Fort San Pedro port.

RELATED READ: PPA rolls out proposed P5.9B plan for Iloilo port complex

PPA also presented the proposed tariff for ports categorized under Tier 1, which includes ICPC.

PTMRF comprises new guidelines in awarding port terminal management contracts as embodied in PPA Administrative Order No. 03-2016, as amended by AO 03-2023. The framework promotes private sector participation in port operations to provide higher-quality service.

ICPC, as a Tier 1 port with a 25-year concession period, will be the first such port to be bid out under the Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework (PTMRF). Since 2020, PPA has bid out 18 ports under Tier 3 (15-year concession) and one port under Tier 2 (20-year concession).

PPA is hoping to bid out the Iloilo port terminal management contract this year.

PMO Panay/Guimaras in a presentation noted the lack of modern equipment in Iloilo port, resulting in low productivity and preventing full use of the yard and berth capacity. It said ICPC has not served international shipping lines or handled international containerized cargo, “making it a severely underutilized investment.”

The PMO said ICPC has room for berth and yard expansion. The port has three berths totaling 627.9 meters and occupies an area of 23 hectares.