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MARCH 21, 2017, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is overhauling its growth forecast for this year despite registering a banner year in 2016.

The state-owned corporation now anticipates growth to be nominal this year from the previous year’s exponential growth due to vital developments over the past two months.

°µÍø³Ô¹ÏGeneral Manager Jay Daniel Santiago explained that the tapered expectation is attributable to the continuing volatility of the Philippine currency as well as the expected drop in the operation of the mining industry in the Philippines.

FEBRUARY 27, 2017, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) posted a P6.159 billion net profit for calendar year 2016, beating the target by 165% or P3.836 billion.

°µÍø³Ô¹Ïwas able to achieve the feat with the strong figures coming from lay-up fees, Ro-Ro fees, berthing fees and remittances from Asian Terminals, Inc.

Compared to the year-ago level, the 2016 figure is 8% better against the P5.705 billion registered in 2015.

FEBRUARY 8, 2017, MANILA—Philippine exports sustained its strong performance in 2016, propelling the country’s cargo volume higher by 12% compared to its year-ago level.

Export cargoes comprise 49% of the total cargo volume handled by the different ports nationwide. It increased by 23% for the entire 2016 period from 60.855 million metric tons (mmt) to 74.822 mmt registered a year earlier.

Import volume, on the other hand, contributed 51% to the total after posting a 4% increase to 76.781 mmt from 73.765 mmt in 2015.

FEBRUARY 2, 2017, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is revisiting its Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) Port System in order to maintain its viability to the trade and tourism sector, more than a decade after its inception.

It is also a response of the agency to the call from the private sector, specifically Ro-Ro operators, to improve the facilities amid their initiatives to modernize the country’s fleet.

JANUARY 31, 2017, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has empowered Asian Terminals, Inc.-Batangas (ATI-B) to manage the berthing assignments in Batangas Port Phase 1, one of the country’s busiest passenger terminal.

ATI-B is the operator of Batangas Port Phase 1 as well as the cargo handling service provider of Phase II or the international container terminal of the same port.

JANUARY 26, 2017, MANILA— The strong emergence of BIMP-EAGA and the massive developments along the Asean logistics gateways toward the completion of the Asean Economic Community will highlight the 9th Ports and Shipping Conference to be held in the country next month.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is hosting the February 22-24, 2017 event at the Peninsula Hotel Manila wherein more than a hundred decision makers, shipping lines, cargo handlers and port operators and other logistics stakeholders are attending.

JANUARY 19, 2017—Another familiar face has been appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Assistant General Manager for Engineering (AGME). °µÍø³Ô¹ÏGeneral Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago administered the Oath of Office of the newly minted AGME Engr. Constante Fariñas, Jr. on 11 January 2017. Fariñas was the Port District Manager of Manila and Northern Luzon from 2010 to 2014. He also served as Port Manager of the North Harbor and the Port of Batangas. (ATMB)

JANUARY 17, 2017, MANILA—State-owned Corporation Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) posted a 17% hike in net profit in the 11-month period of 2016 anchored on the strong financial performance of the agency during the last five months.

The accumulated amount was also significantly higher compared to the target for the entire 11-month period in 2016.

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ïwas able to achieve such financial stability despite the continuing slide in the foreign exchange rate and other external factors affecting the strength of the Philippine peso.

JANUARY 12, 2017, MANILA—The country’s import sector maintains its strong performance bumping Philippine cargo throughput higher by 6% as of October 2016.

The continuing strong performance by the sector is anchored on the high demand of imported consumer products including Christmas goods and foodstuff.

Passenger volume is also on the rise due to the increasing cruise ship arrivals in the Philippines bringing in more tourists resulting in a high double-digit growth in foreign passage traffic.

JANUARY 11, 2017, MANILA—The maritime community within and along the Panay island is getting a new boost after a multipurpose Maritime Center breaks ground at the heart of Iloilo City.

Set to be a one-stop shop for the maritime community, the venture is set to be completed within the second quarter of the year, which include among others, a four-storey building with roof deck and elevator including perimeter fence, driveway, parking area and soft scope.