BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gave the green light for the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) to commence with the development and rehabilitation of the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.
The ICTSI announced that it received yesterday the notice to proceed with the port development from the PPA and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).
This means the Razon-led port operator can start developing and operating the city’s international seaport, which will be renamed Visayas Container Terminal (VCT).
ICTSI has secured the 25-year concession to develop and manage the VCT with a total project cost of over P10.5 billion.
“This 25-year concession strengthens ICTSI’s presence in the Philippines and will unlock the economic potential of the Western Visayas region,” ICTSI said.
The notice to proceed to operate Iloilo’s international seaport came after a review by the PPA and the OGCC. ICTSI said it will focus on improving terminal productivity and service quality by investing in the development and rehabilitation of the terminal infrastructure and the deployment of cargo-handling equipment.
Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, said the VCT is poised to become a “catalyst for Iloilo’s economic and social growth.”
“We’re thrilled to begin operations and transform the Iloilo port into a world-class gateway for the Central Philippines. Our significant investments in modern infrastructure, cargo-handling equipment, and operational efficiency will drive this transformation,” said Gonzalez.
In a separate statement, Mayor Jerry Treñas said he was thrilled by the latest development.
“I am excited about the economic opportunities that will open for Iloilo City with the development and operation of the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.,” said Treñas.
The city mayor said this development will “definitely fuel our economy” considering that Iloilo City is poised as a major trading hub attracting more cargo, jobs, and other business prospects.
“I am eager to see the impact the modernization will bring to the growth of the city and the entire region. I thank the Philippine Ports Authority for approving ICTSI’s redevelopment of Iloilo port,” Treñas stressed.
VCT serves as a vital gateway for the province of Iloilo, the entire Panay Island, and the wider Western Visayas. Its natural harbor in the Panay Gulf, sheltered by Guimaras Island, provides a safe and ideal environment for ships and vessels.
While the seaport plays a crucial role in regional trade, capacity and efficiency constraints have held back its full potential.
ICTSI’s involvement will transform the port, addressing these challenges and unlocking its economic benefits. The port will be operated exclusively to serve foreign vessels and cargoes, with a provision for domestic vessels and cargoes in the initial five years.
The seaport handles a current volume of 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 2 million metric tons of non-containerized cargo annually.
The commercial port spans 627 meters of operational quay length and 20 hectares of land for container and general cargo storage, warehousing, and other cargo-handling activities. It serves the province of Iloilo and Panay Island in Western Visayas.
Data from PPA showed that cargo throughput in Visayas reached 38.1 million metric tons from January to September last year, or about 19 percent of the total cargo volume across the country during the period./PN
