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The Philippine Ports Authority and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on port development and management
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The partnership covers port operations, planning and optimization, digitalization, sustainability, safety, service quality, governance, and capacity building
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PPA and PoABI will explore potential investment opportunities related to port development
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation on port development and management and promote the adoption of international best practices.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago and PoABI head of business development Maartje Driessens signed the MOU, which provides a framework for cooperation in port operations, planning and optimization, digitalization, sustainability, safety, service quality, governance, and capacity building.
Santiago said the partnership could cover port and terminal performance, smart port applications, operational risk management, green port operations, service quality management, and operational governance.
“This will provide opportunities for capacity building on operational readiness for public-private partnership (PPP) port projects, port crisis and emergency response management, cruise port development, and port strategy, as well as the exploration of potential investment opportunities related to port development,” Santiago said.
Driessens said PoABI sees opportunities for knowledge exchange with PPA as the Philippine port sector pursues modernization in infrastructure, digitalization, sustainability, and safety.
“The Philippine Ports Authority is clearly moving toward full modernization of its port network, including upgrading physical infrastructure, digitizing operations, and strengthening green and safety standards,” Driessens said.
She cited PPA initiatives in passenger facilities, disaster resilience engineering, the implementation of ORAS (Online Reservation Assistance System), and real-time data, and sustainability measures such as shore-based power supply and renewable energy.
“These are initiatives where we can definitely learn from each other’s best practices and accelerate our growth strategies,” she added.
READ: PH, Belgium advance broad maritime cooperation agenda
Driessens also identified PPA’s PPP initiatives as an area for further knowledge sharing and international cooperation, saying such approaches could help improve port performance and efficiency.
The cooperation will also cover security and inter-agency integration, including efforts to connect port systems with other government agencies to provide more seamless services to port users.
PoABI offers consultancy, advisory, training, and management for international port projects. Its involvement grants PPA access to global port development expertise.
Also representing PPA during the engagement were assistant general manager for operations Atty. Mark Jon Palomar, assistant general manager for finance, legal and administration Elmer Cadano, and assistant general manager for engineering Engr. James Gantalao.
Representatives from the Belgian diplomatic and maritime sectors also attended, including Ambassador of Belgium to the Philippines Vladislava Iordanova, consul and embassy secretary Marta Hermez, embassy head of visa Heidi Reyntjens, BFBC maritime subcommittee head and board member Leslie Suntay, Belgian trade office commercial assistant Jane Santos, and consular officer Naomi Serrano.
