Iloilo appeals to break stalemate in port dev’t, privatization

The Iloilo government is asking the Department of Transportation or DoTr, the mother agency of the Philippine Ports Authority or PPA, to help hasten the privatization and overhaul of the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex, which could catalyze economic growth in the city.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said a much-needed Public-Private Partnership will facilitate a more efficient trade and faster supply chain movement across the city.

"Together with the business community, we have been pushing for the development of our ports — both airport and seaports. There was an offer from the ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) for our port but it is not moving," Treñas told reporters.

The Iloilo City Local Development Council Executive Committee through Resolution No. 1 Series of 2021 had already endorsed the unsolicited proposal of the ICTSI to the National Economic Development Authority for review and approval.

Yet, the submission has not progressed into a favorable action or result to date.

Treñas, who sits as Chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council, had requested PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago to prioritize fund allocation for the city's port development and expansion.

In his letter dated 5 September 2023, Treñas cited that Western Visayas recorded the highest economic growth rate among all regions at 9.3 percent, which exceeded the national average of 7.2 percent.

However, Treñas lamented that the Iloilo International Port in Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City, has not seen any additional improvements since its establishment in the 70s.

Thus, the Iloilo City government reiterated that access to domestic and international transportation and logistics is of utmost importance to boost the sectors of trade, commerce, and tourism.

"If ICTSI comes in, we will be able to accommodate more international and domestic vessels and we will have a better RORO (roll-on, roll-off) port. It will also reduce berthing costs," the city mayor said.

"I think they presented a proposal to our local economic development office, they proposed to convert it into a container port to improve berthing facilities and add equipment, and I think they want to develop the RORO port. At the moment, we do not have a RORO terminal," he added.

Operating 33 terminals in 20 countries across six continents, ICTSI is a global developer, manager, and operator of container terminals in the 50,000 to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units per year range.