Ports of possibilities

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts by American netizens about the jeans commercial of the American actor Sydney Sweeney. In fact, it was no less than President Donald Trump himself who issued a statement about it, saying it was “the hottest ad out there” despite the public backlash against it.

The hullabaloo did not stop with Trump’s statement, which was immediately followed by another post by the US President saying the singer Taylor Swift was “no longer hot,” emphasizing extreme disgust for her being “woke.”

Well, so much attention for an ad, right? I guess the public relations teams are winning with all the positive and negative reactions the ad is generating.

While some people are going bananas over the ad, some things are going in the direction they were headed.

When President Trump campaigned to “Make America Great Again,” it rippled across global trade as he moved to protect American jobs by prioritizing manufacturing in the US and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign production. (Yes, there are more important topics than the jeans of Sydney Sweeney.)

For us in the Philippines, as an export-driven economy and for the rest of the world, Trump’s policies could mean significant challenges. One may ask how it would affect the Philippines. For sure, there will be some changes. For example, this could mean a decline in exports and reduced container movements, or a shift in trade routes unless we diversify and build resilience now.

Which is why the Philippine Ports Authority is expanding, automating, and regionalizing its port systems and operations. As one of the strongest GOCC performers under the leadership of general manager Jay Santiago, the PPA has been transformed into a forward-thinking regulator focused on boosting efficiency and preparing for long-term economic shifts.

In fact, the PPA’s performance in the first half of 2025 speaks volumes with P14.68 billion in total revenues, beating its mid-year target by nearly one billion pesos; a 13.70-percent increase in income over the same period in 2024; higher vessel and cargo traffic; and a significant reduction in overall expenses.

Recently, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and PPA GM Santiago visited the Luzon International Container Terminal (LICT) in Bauan, Batangas. This private investment by ICTSI aims to be the second-largest container terminal nationwide and the first to be fully automated, modeled after ICTSI’s Victoria International Container Terminal in Melbourne, Australia. Expect remote-controlled quay cranes, driverless container haulers, and AI-enhanced yard management. This technology won’t just boost productivity, it will make the port future-proof, allowing it to operate efficiently even amid labor disruptions or global health threats.

Located in the south of Metro Manila and connected to major roads, LICT is expected to ease the congestion at the Manila ports. The terminal will be an anchor for the wave of industrial development with factories, manufacturing zones, and logistic centers to be established in the area. It will be more than just infrastructure but a gateway for the Philippines to carve a path built on connectivity and adaptability.

Well, at this time when the world is busy with a lot of things and where trade winds are constantly shifting, we need to be prepared with our anchors for we are all in the same boat. The Philippines has always been resilient about changes and will always be, one port at a time.