Marcos reappoints highly regarded ports chief
I thank our President, PBBM, for his trust and confidence in entrusting the management of the Philippine Ports Authority to us once again. I am deeply humbled
Daily TribuneI thank our President, PBBM, for his trust and confidence in entrusting the management of the Philippine Ports Authority to us once again. I am deeply humbled
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reappointed lawyer Jay Daniel Santiago as the general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority where he can continue his projects and programs aimed at improving the country's ports and port districts.
Santiago, who also served as PPA head during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, received his appointment papers on Monday, 24 October. He will replace PPA officer-in-charge general manager Francisquiel Mancile.
"I thank our President, PBBM, for his trust and confidence in entrusting the management of the Philippine Ports Authority to us once again. I am deeply humbled," Santiago said in a press statement on Tuesday.
"We commit to his Excellency our unrelenting effort and determination to improve and bring our ports to even greater heights, both in terms of services and infrastructure, with special focus on his mandate for digitalization of port operations and management for greater port efficiency, more reasonable logistics cost and enhanced comfort and safety for our countrymen," he added.
Santiago was the former general counsel of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation before he was appointed head of the ports authority.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of the Philippines and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the same institution.
Before heading the PPA during Duterte's time, Santiago also served as the senior and managing partner of Feria Tantoco Robeniol Santiago, specializing in corporate and commercial law.
Particularly, he focused on banking and finance, securities regulation, telecommunications and new technologies, tax, immigration, and general business advisory.
Established in 1974 by Presidential Decree 505, the PPA is the primary government agency responsible for the planning, development, and operation of the country's ports or port districts.
PPA controversies
The PPA position, which was hounded by controversy, was vacated for more than three months, or when Marcos was installed as the chief executive.
But a week before Marcos' oath-taking, it was announced last 23 June that Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez has appointed Christopher Pastrana as the new PPA chief.
Pastrana is president of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation and said to be a port operator who controls 20 percent of the state agency's ports.
Pastrana was even sworn in at Malacañang Palace last 30 June. However, he was not seen on the premises of the PPA to report for duty.
Gossip circulated back then that Pastrana's appointment was withdrawn by Malacañang due to a conflict of interest but was later denied by resigned Press Secretary Beatrix Rose Cruz-Angeles.
After a week, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista released a DoTr Special Order 2022-129, installing PPA career official Manuel Boholano as officer-in-charge-general manager, effective 1 to 31 July.
But Boholano was also replaced by Francisquiel Mancile as OIC-GM until Santiago officially assumed office on 25 October.
Herculean task
The new PPA chief faces a herculean task to implement the Transportation Secretary's marching order to reduce shipping and travel costs nationwide.
Santiago, a graduate of Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines, held the PPA post after he was officially installed last 4 July 2016.
He has been extolled by then Transportation Secretary Art Tugade for doing a job well done, after remitting a total of P17.17 billion, a staggering 108 percent increase compared to the full-term remittances during the previous administration that only totaled P8.270 billion for six years.
Also, Santiago was acclaimed by then Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III for setting an example among other government-owned and controlled corporations in stepping up support for the country's Covid-19 response and fulfilling their responsibility by complying with the provisions of the Dividend Law.
Moreover, the PPA earlier reported that a total of P14.87 billion in income tax was likewise paid to the Bureau of Internal Revenue since 2016, wherein the biggest tax paid was recorded in 2018 with a total of P5.90 billion.
During his term, PPA has completed at least 248 seaport development projects which are of the 586 completed seaport projects.