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The Philippine Ports Authority is aiming to finalize soon the feasibility studies for ports whose management and operations will be bid out under the public-private partnership scheme
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After the feasibility studies are completed, they will be up for consultation then PPA Board approval before the port terminal management contracts are bid out
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Some of the first ports that will be bid out include those in General Santos, Lucena, Jasaan, and Balingoan
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PPA assistant general manager for operations Mark Jon Palomar said they will no longer be using their own guidelines when bidding out port contracts as the PPP Code “did away with separate guidelines” for privatization projects
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is aiming to finalize soon the feasibility studies for ports — including the one in General Santos City — whose management and operations will be bid out under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.
“(H)opefully we will be able to finalize the first feasibility studies within the month of October,” PPA assistant general manager for operations Mark Jon Palomar told PortCalls in an interview at the sidelines of the press conference for the 26th National Maritime Week.
After the feasibility studies are completed, they will be up for consultation then PPA Board approval before the port terminal management contracts (PTMC) are bid out.
Some of the first ports that will be bid out include, among others, General Santos, Lucena, Jasaan, and Balingoan ports.
These ports were supposed to be bid out earlier but PPA last year put these on hold under the Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework (PTMRF) — PPA’s guidelines in the awarding of PTMCs — following the issuance in April 2024 of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11966 or the PPP Code of the Philippines.
The conduct of feasibility studies complies with the PPP Code IRR.
Palomar explained that they will no longer be using the PTMRF when bidding out PTMCs as the PPP Code “did away with separate guidelines” for privatization projects. The investment categories under PTMRF will, however, still be used to identify the obligations of PPA and the contractors.
READ: Bidding for port contracts may resume before yearend
Under PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 03-2023, which amended AO 03-2016 (PTMRF guidelines), the investment categories are under three tiers:
- Tier 1 – full concession for 25 years
- Tier 2 – contractor handles physical land infrastructure, above-ground fixtures and semi-fixtures, and mobile-handling equipment while PPA handles physical undersea infrastructure, 20 years concession period
- Tier 3 – contactor handles above-ground fixtures and mobile-handling equipment, 15 years concession period
According to the PPP Center’s projects dashboard, General Santos port will be under Tier 2.
Based on PPA’s submitted list of projects to PPP Center as of May 2025, other ports will be under Tier 3, including the ports of Tubod, Tubigon, San Ricardo, San Juan Lubang, San Fernando (El Nido), Plaridel (Misamis Occidental), Masbate, Lucena, Lipata, Isabela (Basilan), Dumangas, Currimao, Culasi, Coron, Caticlan, Banago, Balanacan, Alegria, San Juan (Batangas), and Nasugbu.
Also under Tier 3 are port clusters, or ports that will be bid out under one contract. These include:
- clusters of Virac and San Andres (Catanduanes);
- Tablas and Carmen (Romblon);
- Siquijor, Lazi, and Larena; Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao (Oriental Mindoro);
- Romblon and Ambulong; Palompon, Hilongos, and Baybay (Leyte);
- Mati and Maco (Davao);
- Limay and Orion; Liloy and Roxas;
- Lamao and Capinpin;
- Hinoba-an, Himamaylan, and Danao (Escalante);
- Dingalan and Casiguran;
- Coron and Borac;
- Clarin, Loon, and Maribojoc;
- Calbayog and Catbalogan;
- Bansud, Pola, and Puerto Galera;
- Balingoan and Jasaan; and
- Abra de Ilog and San Jose.
Under PPA AO No. 03-2023, the clustering of port terminal management at several ports maybe included to ensure commercial viability of the contractor. PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago earlier said they are looking at clustering of ports for bidding to stabilize the market of terminals in a particular area and make management of vessel traffic “flexible” in cases such as vessel queuing. – Roumina Pablo
