P-Noy inaugurates $200-M port facility in Manila

Manila, Philippines -  President Aquino yesterday inaugurated the $200-million newly constructed port facility of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Manila.

Aquino led officials, employees and guests of ICTSI led by its president Enrique Razon Jr. in pouring champagne over the facility’s marker, formally opening the ICTSI Berth 6’s operations to the public.

Berth 6 adds 300 meters of additional port area and 12 hectares of container storage space to the existing facility, thereby expanding operations and services at MICT from 1.9-million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a measure used for capacity in container transportation, to 2.5-million TEUs.

With Berth 6, MICT now has 1,600 meters of berth that can accommodate five to seven container vessels at one time.

To help move around more containers efficiently, MICT’s container handling equipment has also been upgraded to include 12 quay cranes and 45 rubber tired gantries.

Officials led Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Philippine Ports Authority general manager Juan Sta. Ana joined the ceremony.

ICTSI is a leading port management company involved in the operations and development of 23 marine terminals and port projects in 17 countries worldwide.

“A seventh berth is already underway beside Berth 6 to further facilitate Philippine trade growth. As ICTSI’s flagship, this terminal is our benchmark for operating ports around the world, a true symbol of Filipino ability and distinction. Through this new development, the MICT continues to be a beacon of Philippine pride and prominence in a truly global industry,” the company said.

Razon expressed his company’s bullishness on the Philippines due largely to its good economic performance despite the global downtrend affecting bigger economies.

Razon also told the President that ICTSI would continue to make the Philippines a priority even as it expanded operations overseas.

He noted the 6.4 percent growth rate the Philippines achieved in the first quarter of 2012 surpassed that of most Asian countries.

“For the past years, Philippine international trade has been improving and this is reflected in the increasing volume handled at the MICT, the Philippines’ largest and leading international trade gateway,” Razon said.

‘This new berth has been completed at the most opportune time. With the country attracting more foreign investments than ever, we now have added capacity to quickly and efficiently move cargo. An investment of $200 million, this new berth will enable the seamless facilitation of the country’s growing global trade in the next few years,” he said.