The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting to complete 62 port projects this year and a total of 208 projects by the end of the Marcos administration.
The DOTr is monitoring the completion of 104 projects, of which 42 are ongoing and 62 are under implementation and procurement stage.
The completed seaports under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista are the Coring and Tubajon Ports in Dinagat Islands, Labason Port in Zamboanga del Norte and Brgy. Pag-asa Sheltered Port in Kalayaan Island Group, Palawan.
Other completed projects are in Barangay San Roque, Daram, Samar and Catabangan Proper, and Tagbac Port in Ragay, Camarines Sur.
From June 30, 2022, until the end of the President’s term, the DOTr aims to complete 208 more port projects for the benefit of more fisherfolk and residents.
In a related development, Jay Santiago, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager, has issued a memorandum on the implementation of full manpower at ports nationwide during the Holy Week to ensure smooth travel amid the expected influx of passengers.
Based on PPA data, an estimated 2.07 million passengers are expected this Holy week in ports nationwide which is higher than the same period last year with 1.86 million passengers.
All relevant department heads are instructed to implement the full manning of personnel in port operations and port security who are on the frontline services to assist thousands of passengers, PPA said.
Meanwhile, PPA opened the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) 2 of the Port Operations Building in Dumaguete Port early this month as well as the extension of the PTB in Batangas Port to expand its capacity from 2,500 passengers to 8,000 passengers.
The five busiest ports are those in Panay/Guimaras/Iloilo, Batangas, Panay/Jordan, Calapan in Mindoro, and Panay/Guimaras/Dumangas.
