Phl to ink sister port pact with San Fo

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is looking at signing a sister port agreements with various international ports to further boost trade.

PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said the agency currently evaluating a pool of international ports that the Philippines plan to offer sister port arrangements.

“PPA is entering into such in its bid to increase the viability and competitiveness of Philippine ports and benchmark it to world standards,” Sta. Ana said.

He pointed out that the Philippines is set to ink a sister port agreement with the Port of San Francisco Commission (PSC) in the US this November.

He explained that the agreement was discussed during a recent visit to the Port of San Francisco that coincided with the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses early this month.

The Port of San Francisco is America’s gateway to East Asia that offers major assets such as naturally deep water, hundreds of square feet of covered storage, on-dock rails, acres of unobstructed lay-down space and modern and well maintained cargo terminals.

Under the proposed partnership, both the PPA and PSC would share general information, policies and best practices on port planning and building, port management and operations, information technology, personnel training, environmental protection measures, port safety and security, supply chain logistics, cruise tourism, among others.

The agreement would also encourage more trade and business opportunities between the two ports by promoting the relationship and benefits of doing business with the sister ports, and by stimulating port traffic and other port related activities.

This would be the third sister port partnership to be signed by the Philippines since 2004.

The PPA forged a sister port agreement with Incheon in South Korea in 2011 to promote trade and maritime transport between the two countries by way of mutual assistance and port cooperation particularly in the field of port studies, training and apprenticeship, exchange of information, technical assistance as well as traffic development and promotion of services between the two ports.

It likewise signed a sister port agreement with China’s Guangzhou Port Authority in 2004 to facilitate shipments of goods between Guangzhou and the ports of Manila and Davao.

Data showed that the growth of cargo volume slowed down in the first quarter of the year amid the day-time truck ban imposed by the City Government of Manila.

Cargo volume inched up close to five percent to 44.94 million metric tons from January to March compared to 42.942 million metric tons booked in the same period last year.

Domestic cargo volume posted a 5.3 percent increase to 20.058 million metric tons from 19.048 million metric tons last year while foreign cargo grew 4.19 percent to 24.894 million metric tons from 23.893 million metric tons.