published May 18, 2009 in BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) aims to earn up to P75 million this year, despite the slowdown in international shipping activities.
Winfred Elizalde, PPA Tacloban Port manager, said the target would be nearly 14% more than the P66-million revenues last year. The authority exceeded last year’s target of P59 million by 11%.
Mr. Elizalde said their revenue target was raised in anticipation of economic recovery on the second half of this year.
"We believe that the global economic slowdown will be over by third and fourth quarter of 2009," he added.
As of April 25, port offices in the region generated only P20.52 million.
But Mr. Elizalde said he was confident that the target this year would be met.
"I would say that the annual target is still achievable. We are not losing hope because the President keeps on announcing that we are already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," Mr. Elizalde added.
PPA revenues come from wharfage dues, storage charges, property rentals, usage fee, dockage fee and berthing fee.
At the same time, PPA Tacloban is awaiting for the release of its P100-million budget to rehabilitate the 2,500-square-meter deck piles this year in anticipation of increasing volume of cargoes shipped to the region.
The area that lies within the 3.5-hectare old wharf has been deteriorating since it was built back in 1936.
"Since it was constructed, there have been no rehabilitation efforts done. It is still being used, but we’ve been imposing load limits from five tons to 15 tons," Mr.
Elizalde said.
The proposal was earlier forwarded to the central office of PPA with the hope to place the proposed project in the priority list this year.
The city’s wharf has a 7,756-square-meter working area that serves as loading area for 10-40 footer cargo containers. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
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