28 FEBRUARY 2023, MANILA — The Philippine Ports Authority generated a whopping Php 20.4B in revenues in 2022, the highest collected so far since the inception of the agency 48 years ago. According to PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, this success can be attributed to the authority's sound fiscal management and brought about by the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions leading to a positive rebound of the economy.
"It has been business as usual since we got back, we continue to veer away from the grip of the pandemic by contributing to the economy and increasing our revenues by 16%, more than the Php 17.5B in year 2021 and Php 16.6B in year 2020. We believe this is a good sign and a great shift in gears during this rebound of the economy" Santiago added.
In 2022, 69 projects were completed including Tablas (Poctoy) Port Expansion Project in Port of Tablas (Poctoy), Odiongan, Romblon; Balanacan Port Expansion project located in Port of Balanacan, Marinduque; Construction of Back-Up Area and Port Operations Building of Coron Port, Palawan which is set to be inaugurated this incoming March 2023; Matnog Port Expansion Project from Port of Matnog, Sorsogon; Back-Up Area Construction of Dumangas Port in Dumangas, Iloilo; Back-Up Area Construction of Port of Getafe, Bohol; Construction of Port Operations Building and RoRo Ramp in Maasin Port (Southern Leyte); Development Project of Dapitan Port located in Port of Dapitan, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte; Upgrading and Expansion of Lawigan Port in Bislig, Surigao del Sur; Construction of the Continuous RoRo Ramp in Port of Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan de Oro City; and lastly the Expansion of Back-Up Area with RoRo ramp that has been conducted in the Port of Lipata, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Santiago said these increasing figures are proof of PPA's efficient management of expenses and streamlined delivery of services to port users and stakeholders. "In the past 10 years, the next highest total revenue of PPA was recorded during the pre-pandemic year 2019 amounting to P18.3B which is 5% higher than the income reached in 2018, so my point is, we can always surpass the initial target because we have set our own high value goals" added Santiago.
PPA 2022 reports highlighted performance with a 7.15% (527, 131 TEUs) increase of containers handled at ports nationwide that caused a 5.01% (143, 880 TEUs) improvement in the volume of domestic cargoes. Same as with foreign containers that had an 8.51% (383, 251 TEUs) increase for the said year.
While sea-going passenger travel last year was set to normalize its performance as it recorded to have an increase of 155.99% or 35, 997, 226 passengers. An attribute to the resumption of domestic tourism, trade and regular travel activities.
On the other hand shipcalls had an increase of 25.31% (95, 993 shipcalls), wherein domestic shipcalls attained a percentage of 26.22 or having 96, 352 shipcalls. However, foreign shipcalls had a decline at 3.05% or only 359 shipcalls.
“Consistent with our track record of continuously increasing our performance, PPA sets to target in 2023 to generate Php 21.6B to help us achieve more” Santiago concluded.
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