Ports body starts aggressive modernization program

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has embarked on an aggressive medium-term modernization program covering primary and secondary ports nationwide in partnership with the private sector.

The program was designed to enable the country to cope with 21st century require-ments of port operations and meet the standards in international port facilities and services by the year 2010.

It also involved retooling of PPA managers, other officers and staff to enhance their efficiency and productivity.

At least 10 major ports throughout the country have been expected to undergo massive modernization process within the next seven years, resulting in dramatic improvements in port services and reduction in the cost of transacting business at the waterfronts.

"We also intend to integrate port community development and environmental protection in the development and operation of our ports," said PPA general manager Alfonso Cusi.

To prepare its people for bigger responsibilities under a reformed PPA, the agency adopted and tested last year what it called a Revised Management and Control System (RMPCS) program meant to "strengthen feedback mechanisms with the rationalization of reports and reconciliation of reporting schedules."

RMPCS puts greater emphasis on decentralization of authority and responsibility without losing focus on accountability and control, as well as performance evaluation based on set standards.

The scheme would allow all members of the organization to internalize the shift in corporate value orientation that initially covered PPA executives particularly those managing frontline operating units.

Motivational leadership seminars were also held for department chiefs and division managers to enable them to greatly improve their administrative efficiency and capability.

Similar trainings have been lined up for the rank and file employees.

Meanwhile, the PPA has trained its sights on providing internationally competitive facilities and services in major ports, specifically the North and South Harbors in Manila, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), as well as the wharves in the cities of Batangas, Subic, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao and General Santos which handled about 80 percent of an estimated 81 million metric tons of cargo throughput per year.

The MICT, for instance, which has been privatized and transferred to the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. was reputedly the busiest and most modern terminal with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tons (MT) of cargo annually at current utilization of 70 percent. However, major improvements of two shore cranes and the construction of an empty container deport which was commissioned on July 31 last year. This depot has ground slots of 1,148 TEUs, employing side-lifter mechanisms and will be available to truckers, haulers and shippers.