-
The Department of Transportation and Philippine Ports Authority unveiled the P316-million Zamboanga port expansion project
-
The project involved expansion of the backup area, extension of reinforced concrete pier, and installation of lighting system
-
The expansion doubles annual cargo capacity to at least 3 million metric tons
-
The port can now handle 37.5% more shipcalls annually to 11,000 from 8,000
-
PPA is also constructing a new passenger terminal building in Zamboanga
-
When completed in 2023 it will be the country’s biggest, able to accommodate 6 million passengers annually from the current 3.5 million
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) unveiled on December 2 the completed P316-million Zamboanga port expansion project, which allows the facility to handle twice as much cargo and 37.5% more shipcalls annually.
The project involved expansion of the port’s backup area, extension of reinforced concrete pier, and provision of lighting system. The port can now handle at least 11,000 shipcalls annually from 8,000 in 2015. Annual capacity has been jacked up to at least 3 million metric tons from 1.5 MMT, also in 2015.
PPA said the project aims to facilitate growing trade in the Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly sardine exports to the United States, Europe, and the Far East.
PPA is also constructing a new passenger terminal building (PTB) in Zamboanga. When completed in 2023 it will be the country’s biggest, able to accommodate six million passengers annually from 3.5 million, or a 71.4% improvement.
PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the project will play a vital role for the economy of Zamboanga, which he said is still recovering from aftereffects of the Zamboanga Siege in 2013 aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the port, being the gateway port for the entire Zamboanga Peninsula and predominantly of the country’s sardine export receipts, these seaport projects will ensure access to the international market at the most competitive cost until we can fully recover from the pandemic,” Santiago said.
The projects are internally funded by the port authority.
To date, DOTr and PPA have completed 484 seaport projects nationwide; around 100 more are ongoing. Projects in the pipeline, expected to begin before the current administration winds up in mid-2022, include further expansion of the Abra de Ilog and Balatero ports in Mindoro, as well as the Culasi port in Capiz and Jagna port in Bohol.
In Mindanao, several proposals are under review and expected to be up for bidding soon.
