PORT IMPROVEMENT. An unsolicited proposal by the International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) seeks to upgrade the existing Iloilo Commercial Port Complex into a world-class port. The proposal is now waiting action by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Board. It also intends to build a terminal for cruise ship passengers, to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Development Plan. (PNA contributed photo)
ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILED) is looking at the support of both the city and provincial governments of Iloilo for the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Board to act swiftly on a project of a private firm to improve the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex in Loboc, Lapuz, this city with a budget of PHP 8.7 billion.
In a phone interview Monday, Francis Gentoral, executive director of ILED, said the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) intends to upgrade the Iloilo Port once its unsolicited proposal, dubbed the “Original Proponent Status” is approved.
During their May 24 briefing in Manila, they were told that the ICTSI wanted to upgrade the port into a world-class level by “maximizing big ship capability; installing ship-to-shore gantry cranes; and continuously upgrading yard capacity aligned to traffic studies”.
It also intends to build a terminal for cruise ship passengers, to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Development Plan.
Present during the briefing were Senator Franklin Drilon, Iloilo City Lone District Representative and now mayor-elect Jerry P. Treñas; Congresswoman-elect Julienne Baronda; and ILED chairperson Narzalina Lim, Jocelyn Perez, Terence Uygongco, Rex Drilon, and Gentoral.
“We thought at ILED to encourage local governments to write a letter that supports the acceleration of the process,” he said.
They were informed that the proposal is now with the PPA Board for review but for now they have no idea what will be the next step of the ports authority.
Once the PPA approves the proposal, ITCSI can already start with the groundwork next year, he added.
Gentoral said that once the proposal is realized, it will create a significant impact on Iloilo. He said Iloilo can already send agriculture products to other outbound markets.
With this, he cited the need to improve agricultural productivity to be able to export.
The export potential of agriculture products is expected to get a boost once the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project will start operations in 2022. Its irrigation component is expected to cover an initial 31,000 hectares of rice land.
“This early we are seeing a heightened shipping activity in the province due to the economic development that has taken place in the province for the past years,” Drilon said.
Treñas, as incoming mayor of Iloilo City, committed to upgrading the road network going to and from the port to accommodate bigger traffic.
“One priority project is to update the land use plan to capture the expansion of road networks that are needed for the port,” Gentoral added.
Moreover, if the traffic limit of the Iloilo Port is about to be reached, the ICTSI is also willing to develop the port of Dumangas, which has been pushed by the provincial government of Iloilo for development.
“Our advocacy is to fast-track the processing of the unsolicited proposal so they can already start. If approved this year, they can start the ground running by January next year,” Gentoral said.
Lim also offered to mobilize all the business associations in Iloilo to throw their support behind the ICTSI proposal. (PNA)
