US-Funded Port Projects In South To Spur Economic Activity

The port of Bonggao in Tawi-Tawi island in the southern Philippines. (Darwin Wee)

TAWI-TAWI (Darwin Wee / 01 Aug) Shipping activities in the southern Philippines are expected to improve after the United States completed the rehabilitation of five major ports in the region, officials said.

The P300 million projects is part of the US commitment to help develop and spur economic activity in the southern Philippines, particularly in the Muslim autonomous region and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Carlos Tan, deputy program manager, of the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM), said that five out of the six priority ports in the region are completed.

"We are almost complete. At least 5 out six ports are already completed and operational in the Muslim autonomous region and Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said.

Kristie Kenney, the US Ambassador to Manila, recently visited Tawi-Tawi to personally hand over the new P53-million Bongao port project to Filipino officials led by Gov. Sadikul Sahali, Mayor Albert Que, of Bongao town and Ahmed Ampatuan, regional port manager.

Kenney said the completion of the facility would spur economic activity and lure local and foreign investors to Tawi-Tawi, the country’s top exporter of seaweeds.

The renovation of the ports was part of the Regional Impact Infrastructure Projects, according to Tan.

He said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also allocated at least P900 million for infrastructure development in conflict-affected areas in the southern region.

About one-third of the funding will be used to renovate or build ports and wharfs in Siasi and Maimbung towns in Jolo island; Lamitan and Maluso ports in Basilan island and Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province.

"Shipping ports are very crucial in this region because 90% of the people used these facilities to transport goods and commodities,” he said.

Tan said port projects will include additional berths, passenger terminal buildings, storage area for cargoes, and docking platform for roll-on, roll-off vessels. “From an average of 62 vessel calls per month, the port of Bongao is now capable of handling more ships and passengers,” he said.

“In the long-tem, the port improvement is expected to contribute to increasing port productivity and contribute to the growth of the local economy and regional development.”

Datu Harun Bandila, ARMM Business Council president, said improving port facilities in the region will promote better trade and business activities not only in the western part of Mindanao, but would strengthen trade linkages between Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines.

"Improved and fully developed ports will definitely reduce transport cost for cargoes, and will also provide better access to the resources of both private business and government sectors for the long-term benefits," he said.