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QUEZON
CITY – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is another step closer to building
more roll on-roll off (roro) and fast craft ports.
This after
the House Committee on Transportation approved House Bill 4396 authored by Rep.
Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), seeking to increase PPA’s capitalization
to P50 billion.
General
Manager Juan “Boy” Sta. Ana expressed elation over the new PPA capitalization,
saying on top of building more roro and fast craft ports, it can better
maintain and improve the existing ports under the PPA system nationwide.
The
approval came after Aumentado justified the measure, saying that PPA has
consistently remitted to the national treasury not less than P1 billion pesos
yearly as 50% of its net revenues from operation. The solon said the PPA is one
of the few government owned and controlled corporations that give dividend
every year to the national government instead of being subsidized by the
latter.
To recall,
the original capital of PPA amounted to P5 billion only. The amount has been
exhausted, Aumentado explained, that is why PPA needs a bigger capitalization
to accomplish its mission and vision.
As of now,
PPA has estimated assets of P150 billion, but it needs liquidity or capital to
build and improve more ports and support infrastructure like terminal buildings
and fast craft facilities.
To note,
during Aumentado’s governorship of Bohol, PPA improved by leaps and bounds the
ports of Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Ubay and Jagna – all of which have become major
components of the strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).
Due to its
additional capitalization, PPA will have funds for the Bohol cruise port in
Loon and fast craft berths at the Getafe port and for other ports development
in the 2nd District of Bohol.
Getafe now
has two Star fast crafts owned by the Ouanos plying everyday from Cebu and back
to bring more tourists, business and commerce to Bohol, while Tubigon port has
additional fast crafts with the entry of Lite Shipping of Lucio Lim Jr. and
soon, that of former PPA General Manager Alfonso Cusi.
Other
ports needing improvement are the Ubay port which requires a new access road
and causeway, as well as dredging, to accommodate bigger vessels and the Tapal
wharf also in Ubay which is now handling the bulk of cargoes from all points of
the country in the 2nd District.
The
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is undertaking the construction
of a new access road to the Ubay port costing P37.4 million to prevent
accidents in its present narrow access road passing through the busy Ubay
market. It will also provide a better entry and exit road for thickly populated
barangay Tapon for easy access to fire trucks in case of conflagrations and
facilitate the delivery of basic social services as education, health and
sanitation therein.
The ports
in Clarin and Bien Unido are now also being developed by The Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as feeder ports for tourism, cargoes
and passengers. They are also eyed for PPA possible development due to their
strategic locations. --- END
Link:
- Bohol Times newspaper --- [link]
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