With the recent celebration of World Education Day on 24 January, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) underscored the importance of expanding learning spaces beyond the walls of the classroom and bringing education closer to real-world experiences that shape national development.

According to PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago, learning does not always happen inside a classroom — sometimes, it happens in places one least expects, such as ports.

He said what may seem like a space where passengers simply arrive and depart also serves as a vital hub of economic activity, logistics, and public service, making it an ideal setting for experiential learning.

Guided by this perspective, the PPA highlights its Port Educational Tour, a learning initiative that brings students closer to the actual operations of ports across the country, while introducing them to the critical role of the maritime sector in nation-building.

Santiago emphasized that the initiative reflects the agency’s broader mandate beyond port regulation and development.

“Education is a cornerstone of nation-building. By opening our ports to students, we are helping shape informed and future-ready citizens who understand the importance of maritime connectivity to our economy. This initiative supports the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to build a stronger and more inclusive Philippines,” GM Santiago said.

As early as 2015, the PPA has been conducting port educational activities as part of its advocacy to expand learning opportunities for the youth and to increase awareness of the maritime industry.

Over the years, the initiative has steadily grown and is now implemented nationwide, reaching various ports and Port Management Offices beyond Manila South Harbor and the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

The Port Educational Tour aims to broaden students’ understanding of port operations and the maritime industry through actual exposure to port facilities and operational areas.

It serves as a valuable supplement to academic learning, particularly for students taking up maritime, logistics, port management, and engineering courses.

Each tour typically accommodates around 30 to 100 students, composed mainly of senior high school and college learners, with some ports also welcoming younger students.

Nationwide participation from various Port Management Offices (PMOs) highlights the wide reach of the program. From SOCSARGEN, NCR South and North, Eastern Leyte/Samar, Negros Oriental/Siquijor, Lanao del Norte/Iligan, Western Leyte/Biliran, Panay/Guimaras, Agusan, Zamboanga, Davao, Misamis Occidental/Ozamiz, Misamis Oriental/ Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga Del Norte/Dapitan port educational tours were conducted between 2023 and 2025, accommodating students from daycare, senior high school, and college levels.

These activities were made possible through close coordination between PPA and participating schools.

Across different ports, the program generally follows a structured flow.

Activities begin with a safety orientation, followed by a discussion on the role of the PPA in nation-building, economic development, and environmental protection. Students are then guided through selected operational areas and key port facilities, with PPA personnel explaining day-to-day port functions. Tours often conclude with an open forum or question-and-answer session to further enrich the learning experience.

The students gain firsthand insights into port operations and the vital role ports play in daily life and national development through guided visits to passenger terminal buildings and operational zones — an experience that many participants describe as both eye-opening and inspiring.

For other students, the tour deepened their appreciation of ports as gateways not only for commerce but also for people and cultures.

Meanwhile, the operational side of port management left a lasting impression on students interested in logistics and supply chains.

Through initiatives such as the Port Educational Tour, the PPA continues to support education as a key pillar of nation-building, opening its ports not only to facilitate trade and transport but also to serve as learning platforms for future maritime and logistics professionals.