PPA eyes completion of 20 projects this year

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) aims to deliver 20 projects this year involving the upgrade of cargo and passenger terminals across the country to support inter-island trade and travel.

Based on its annual report, the PPA spent P5.23 billion in 2024 to undertake 81 new and existing projects, of which 33 are in Luzon, 26 in the Visayas and 22 in Mindanao.

From this, the PPA managed to complete 15 of them—six in Luzon, two in Visayas and seven in Mindanao—and is working on finishing the remainder in the pipeline.

For 2025, the PPA said it is pursuing 20 new projects – 10 in Luzon, five in Visayas, four in Mindanao and one covering all offices. The agency is also bidding out 10 ports for turnover to the private sector under the Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework.

The PPA is able to commit more resources for port upgrades, as it is backed by the growth in its finances. The agency’s net income increased by 26 percent to P7.41 billion last year, from P5.88 billion in 2023, marking another record for the regulator of domestic ports.

As a result, the PPA raised its dividends to the government by three percent, reaching an all-time high of P5.2 billion to remain as one of the largest contributors among state-run firms.

Among the PPA’s completed projects in 2024, the upgrading of the Port of Davao’s general cargo berth required the highest cost at P902.09 million, followed by the P693.56-million construction of a wharf for the Port of Catagbacan.

The PPA also invested P1.2 billion for dredging operations, removing 3.63 million cubic meters of silts to improve ship safety in ports.

The PPA is playing a critical role in facilitating trade and travel in Eastern Visayas in light of logistical issues caused by the enforcement of weight limits in the San Juanico Bridge. In particular, it is shouldering the cost of enhancements to the Amyendahan Port in Basey, Samar.

The PPA is spending P410 million for various interventions to the crisis. The bulk of the amount at P200 million will finance the expansion of the Amandayehan Port to enable it to handle more ships that could transport goods and people between Leyte and Samar.

The PPA will also invest P110 million for the installation of navigational buoys for marine safety and P100 million for dredging works in the port for smoother sailing.

To make way for repair works, the San Juanico Bridge is observing a three-ton limit, preventing buses and trucks from crossing.