On 15-Jul-2019, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) inaugurated the Philippines’s biggest seaport Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in the Port of Cagayan de Oro, Barangay Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City.

“The construction of this brand new building will greatly strengthen the region as the global gateway to Mindanao. Once we inaugurate this on July 15, we are opening Cagayan De Oro to the nation and to the rest of the world as we pursue progress for our seaports,” PPA General Manager Jay Santiago stated.

PPA GM Santiago said the new P276.705 million facility would boost opportunities for economic growth and tourism, not only in the city or in the province of Misamis Oriental, but also for the entire Northern Mindanao. Through the expansion project, the new PTB can now accommodate up to 3,000 sea-passengers daily, triple its previous passenger capacity of 1,000.

The only port in the country managed and operated by the Philippine Ports Authority with such a facility, the 18,150 sqm Passenger Terminal Complex houses three major structures: (i) the 2-Storey Passenger Terminal Building, the ground floor of which has a 1,176 passenger seating-capacity and the second floor of which has a 1,221 passenger-seating capacity; (ii) Waiting Area for arriving passengers; and (iii) the Security Checkpoint Facility 1 for embarking passengers. The Complex also has a queuing area for Taxis/PUVs; a designated area for ticketing outlets; covered walkways; open spaces for parking with carbon sink areas containing mature trees and some plants.

The Passenger Terminal Building contains facilities and gender and development (GAD) amenities for safety, security, comfort and convenience of passengers including Security Checkpoint 2 with X-Ray scanner for luggage/baggage, body scanner, CCTVs; Security Office; Office for PTC Personnel; Ballistics and Ammunitions Office; Passenger Boarding Stations; Collector’s Booth; Public Assistance and “Malasakit” Help Desks; Offices for Tourism, Quarantine, City Tourist Police, and Coast Guard; waiting areas; designated green area; and storage room.

PPA Administrative Order No. 04-2019, which took effect on 15-July-2019 grants exemption from payment of terminal fee to embarking passengers in all PPA Ports, particularly students, senior citizens, persons with disability (PWD), and Selected Uniformed Personnel (AFP, PNP, PCG) in active service.

As PPA celebrated its 45th Founding Anniversary on 11-July-2019 with the theme “Apatnapu’t limang taon na Malasakit at Serbisyo” PPA has remained steadfast in giving “malasakit” and service to the Filipino people. PPA GM Santiago explained that “Malasakit at Serbisyo” will be the mantra of PPA in the next 365 days with the end goal of providing “malasakit” to the Filipino people through improved port services and towards a comfortable travel experience.

GAD amenities include a children play area; child care station for breastfeeding and diaper changing; ecumenical prayer rooms; special boarding lane for senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, and women traveling with children below age 2; drinking fountains; separate toilet facilities for PWD, female, and male; medical urgent care need room; and a concessionaire area for food stalls, coffee shops, and “pasalubong” centers.

Construction of the PTB was completed in April this year. In addition, the PPA will also be inaugurating its new Opol Port in Misamis Oriental, and the 6-land electronic multi-gate system.

Together with the ongoing extension of wharf and expansion back- up area, these three projects are part of the Port Management Office for Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro (PMO MisorCDO) program to beef up its operational capability under its 7 Pillars of Development infrastructure program. Developed in consultation with the Philippine Liners Shipping Association (PLSA), the long-term program is geared towards sustaining Northern Mindanao’s growth over the next decades.

Metro-Cagayan de Oro is envisioned to become the Philippines 4th Metropolitan Center by 2025 along with Manila, Cebu and Davao, based on the National Spatial Strategy proposed network of settlements under the 2017-2025 edition of the Philippine Development Plan. As a Metropolitan Center, Cagayan de Oro would serve as a center of commercial, financial, administrative activities, and a primary international gateway.

Beyond the immediate port area, PMO MisorCDO will also alleviate road congestion in its entry/exit points through the Opol Port zone delineation and development project to address congestion in the West coast highways by handling all incoming cargo from the Western Misamis Oriental and Iligan City.

“The development and construction of Opol Port will decongest Cagayan de Oro Port with the diversion of tramping vessels to Luyong Bonbon, Opol, Misamis Oriental, thereby relieving arterial roads of truck traffic to the port, and the port itself of these vessels,” said Engr. Samuel Claro P. Fontanilla, PMO MisOrCDO engineering services Division Manager. “As part of the 7 pillars program to transform the Cagayan de Oro Port into a purely containerized port, Opol Port will serve as alternate port for domestic tramping vessels to ease berth congestion at Cagayan de Oro Port and bring it up to UNCTAD standard,” Fontanilla added. The P264-million Opol Port project will reduce stand-by time, shifting of vessels, and optimize berth utilization at the Cagayan de Oro Port.

Relatedly, the 6-Lane, ISPS compliant Electronic Gate Complex through Gate 3 leading to Arcadia Valenzuela Avenue in Lapasan will relieve traffic congestion at Gate No. 2 by providing a 6 lane electronic-controlled access to port users and eliminate long queues at entry point. This facility will be fully equipped with CCTV cameras, weigh bridges for cargo, electronic gates, and payment booths. The EPS will be embedded as part of the RFID system, and will be the first of its kind in the country.

The Electronic Permit System (EPS) and Electronic Payment System (ePayment) will be eventually embedded and complemented by the LTO’s Motor Vehicle Recognition System through the use of the RFID as part of the system.

Expected to grace the inauguration of the three key facilities is DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, who commended PPA for its efforts in completing the massive port project for the people of Cagayan de Oro.

“I am thankful to PPA GM Jay Santiago, and to the men and women of PPA, for realizing the dream of building the biggest Passenger Terminal Building in the country. This is a huge step towards giving the people of Cagayan de Oro a comfortable life through enhanced connectivity, a legacy promised by President Rodrigo Duterte,” DOTr Sec Tugade said.

“Moreover, it will strengthen the region as the global gateway to Mindanao and gives much impact on our tourism industry where we are able to showcase and afford to both local and foreign tourists the comfort, convenience, accessibility of home, safety and security they deserved in their travel experience,” said Engr. Isidro V. Butaslac Jr, PMO MisorCDO Port Manager.

“It impacts more on the tourism industry where we can showcase Mindanao and affording as well for both local and foreign tourists the comfort, convenience, accessibility of home, safety and security in their travels,” said Engr. Butaslac.

“Since both Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental are situated in Mindanao where one may have a different outlook vis a vis tourism destinations in other parts of the country, especially considering the continued martial law, it would also afford them a feeling of safety and security, upon setting foot in the port for their departure back to their home, with its sophisticated security equipment and facilities,” Engr. Butaslac added.

Starting November 2014, when Engr. Butaslac assumed the stewardship of PPA’s PMO MisOrCDO, the port has attained significant milestones, foremost among of which was the port’s recognition as one of the APSN Green Port Award System (GPAS) winners for 2018, among candidate ports from 18 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

On 10-December-2018, the PPA Head Office endorsed the PMO MOC’s entry dubbed, “Philippine Ports Authority Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MOC): Fostering a Green Culture for Port Operations and Management,” and highlighted its initiatives for environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability through the employment of technology; issuance and compliance with environmental policies and mandates; and inculcating environmental awareness among port stakeholders.

Cagayan de Oro Port Manager Engr. Butaslac received the Certificate of Recognition, ASPN Green Port Badge, and flag banners from APEC Port Services Network (APSN) during the annual awarding ceremony on 15-November-2018 in Singapore. Barely a month later, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) cited the PMO-MOC as a Best Practice for its environmental protection and conservation during the 2018 Government Best Practice Recognition (GBPR).

Operationally, the PMO MOC has addressed berthing congestion (already over 100% eight years ago) by segregating berths according to type of cargo of the berthing vessel: Berths 1-2 for break bulk vessels with LOA up to 100m; 3-7 for RORO passenger and break bulk vessels; 8-10 for container vessels; 11-13 for liquid/solid bulk; and 12 & 13 for foreign break bulk vessels with LOA more than 110m. In addition, the port is undertaking dredging to a uniform depth of 13 meters to meet international standards.

As a complement to the berthing classification, PMO MOC has also proposed for consideration as a high-impact project, the provision of a break bulk receiving facility at area “A” to enhance palletizing operations, ensure and improve safe and healthy working conditions for dockworkers and other port users, and preserve or protect perishable cargoes from environmental hazards and exposure to extreme weather.

The project is situated about 200 meters from where Mediterranean type vessels carrying cargo to be palletized are berthed. Trucks will no longer enter the port area so as not to congest its operational yard and port roads. Security, yard congestion, entry of irrelevant personnel, and safety concerns are expected to be attained since cargo trucks will no longer have to enter the port operational area. On top of segregating the berths, the quay which has never been extended during the last 6 years until 2015 was extended by another 150 meters, to be eventually lengthened up to 700 meters over the next 20 years.

Not the least, PMO MOC replaced its lighting system using solar powered LED lighting to significantly reduce power costs and pilferage of power cable wires.

About the author: Mike Baños is VP-Digital/Editor-at-Large, Mindanao Daily Publishing Corporation, and recipient of 2017 Provincial Reporter of the Year (Print), and Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards.