Govt awards P16-M contract for Batangas port study
UNDER STUDY. A study is set to assess how the Batangas port can be fully utilized for Manila port's sake. AFP Photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) tapped a joint venture to study how to maximize use of the Batangas port as part of efforts to decongest the Port of Manila.
The joint venture between Science & Vision for Tech Inc. and Syconsult Inc. won the P16.27-million contract for the feasibility study.
It will commence its review of the performances of the Manila and Batangas ports, and determine how to best utilize the latter so it can be a major terminal for cargo shipments.
It will focus on a proposal of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to divert cargo shipments to Batangas and Subic.
"It's a way to go forward. While our move is to decongest Metro Manila, we should study how to properly divert cargoes to Subic and Batangas," PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said.
The Science & Vision-Syconsult jv was awarded the contract after fulfilling technical and financial requirements. PPA's bids and awards committee said the bidding was held on August 2.
Careful assessment
Sta. Ana stressed the JICA proposal must be studied carefully.
The government should look into the impact on exporters, importers, trucking businesses and warehouses, among others, he pointed out.
Transportation chief Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said that the government is pushing for the development of Subic and Batangas as alternative seaports to decongest the Manila International Container Terminal operated by Enrique Razon-led International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
ICTSI warned the move will drive shipping costs up. – Rappler.com
