GROUNDBREAKING. Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jose Panganiban Port Improvement Project in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte on Wednesday (June 19, 2024). Santiago said the project, once completed, will more than double the cargo capacity of the port and serve two RoRo vessels at the same time. (Photo courtesy of PPA)
MANILA – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Wednesday said the Jose Panganiban Port Improvement Project will boost trade and economy in the Bicol Region, particularly on export cargo operations in Camarines Norte.
During the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the improvement project seeks to increase the capacity of the port from 8,673 metric tons (MT) of cargo and one roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel before the Covid-19 pandemic to 18,516 MT and two RoRo vessels by 2032.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga kababayan sa Camarines Norte lalo na't magsisilbi itong logistics hub dahil sa stratehikong lokasyon nito na nasa gitna ng Bicol region at National Capital Region (This will be a big help to our people in Camarines Norte because this will serve as a logistics hub due to its strategic location in the middle of Bicol region and the NCR),” Santiago said.
He said the project will specifically help in the export of local products in Camarines Sur such as coconut and by-products, iron ore, silica, and copra, among others.
“Ang mga produktong lokal ng Camarines Norte ay magkakaroon ng tulay sa pamamagitan ng PPA port na makarating sa mga karatig bansa (Local products from Camarines Norte will have a bridge through the PPA port to neighboring countries),” he said.
During the event, Senator Robinhood Padilla thanked the PPA for the project and highlighted its benefits to the local economy.
“Kayo po ang unang national agency ng gobyerno na tiningnan niyo po ang aming pag-asa na umunlad at ang pag-asa namin ay ma-develop namin ‘yung aming ports (You are the first national government agency that gave us hope of progress and that our ports will be developed),” Padilla said.
The Jose Panganiban Port Improvement Project is part of the PPA’s drive to modernize ports across the country to improve the country’s seaports and maritime industry. (PNA)
