The Philippine Port Authority (PPA) Port Management Office of Agusan (PMO-AGS) was formerly called Port Management Unit (PMU) Masao. Later, PMU-Masao was renamed PMO-Nasipit, which covered Baseport Nasipit, and two government ports: Terminal Management Offices (TMO) Butuan and Masao.
HISTORY. The recorded history of Nasipit, which is a natural cove, can be traced to as early as 1880 when it was declared a pueblo by the Spanish colonizers. Nasipit was officially separated from the Municipality of Butuan on 1-August-1929. Butuan City, the center of trade and industry, is the capital of the province of Agusan del Norte, Mindanao. It is the center of CARAGA Region that comprises the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, the two provinces and the cities of Butuan: Tandag, Bislig, Bayugan and Cabadbaran. Butuan, a prehistoric city by the mighty Agusan River, is reportedly the site of the oldest settlement in the Philippines. Its history, culture, arts and people dates back to the 4th century as showcased in its museums. It has been said that “In the beginning there was no Philippines, but there was Butuan. The Agusan River provided the people with easy means of transportation for trade and commerce of agro-forestry products and making logging a boom industry, which made Butuan the “Timber City of the South.”
According to the Chinese Soong Shi history, the people of Butuan had already established trading relationships with the Kingdom of Champa (now southern Vietnam) in the 10th Century which later made Butuan the center of trade and commerce in the Philippines in the 11th century. This is evidenced by the discovery of 9 Balangays or Butuan Boats, and the discovery of other archeological artifacts like death masks, Chinese porcelain, weighing scale, gold, and jewelry found in Ambangan, Libertad near the old El Rio de Butuan and Masao River.
REGIONAL PROFILE. PMO-AGS serves a wide hinterland which includes Agusan del Norte and the cities of Butuan and Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur and Bayugan City, Surigao del Sur, Tandag and Bislig City, and parts of Bukidnon Province, Misamis Oriental, and Compostela Valley. These lands near ports are rich investment areas for agriculture, forestry, and eco-tourism. Strategically situated within the regional center of Region XIII Caraga, the ports play a vital role in linking Northeastern Mindanao to other ports in Mindanao and Central Philippines.
The economy of the region is highly dependent on natural resources based on production and development activities. The presence of ports in the region brings convenience and strategic links to industrial and trading centers such as Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga, Cebu, and Manila.
Infrastructure within the region such as efficient water and power/electricity facilities, improved telecommunications, efficient transport system, excellent road networks, schools, training centers, and hospitals further broaden the advantages of the area. The availability of highly skilled and cheap manpower is an advantage for industries to be more competitive. The Butuan Domestic Airport holds regular flights to and from Manila and Cebu. Butuan City is 175 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City. The completion of the P2 Billion 2nd Magsaysay Bridge eased up traffic of people and goods to and from the region.
The Agusan-Surigao area is envisioned to be a leading agri-aqua industrial area and trade center of Northeastern Mindanao within the context of sustainable socio-economic growth, ecological soundness, social equity and justice, positive value system in making the area the gateway of equal opportunity for all. The region boasts of its agricultural potentials for diversified systems, vast forest resources to provide lumber requirement for woodwork furniture for export; its long coastline, and fresh and brackish water for marine fishing and aquaculture; wide areas for breeding cattle and other livestock; and varied mineral resources for extraction and processing into high value-added exportable jewelry and metal-based products.
PORT PROFILE. PPA PMO-AGS is comprised of Baseport Nasipit, 2 government ports, TMOs Butuan and Masao, and 5 private ports: San Miguel Corp, Butuan City; Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Cabadbaran City Agusan del Norte; San Roque Metals Inc (SRMI), Tubay, Agusan del Norte; Agata Mining Ventures, Inc (Minimax Mineral Exploration), Tubay Agusan del Norte; and Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. (CAGLI), Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
The harbor at Baseport Nasipit is 2 kms long and about a kilometer wide, facing north to Butuan Bay. Ground elevation around the harbor rises to 20m, quite steep from the water’s edge. Baseport Nasipit has a total area of 53,941 sqm with an 11,694 sqm open storage area, 1,080 sqm cargo shed, 450 sqm open transit shed, and is 25 kms from Butuan City with reinforced concrete (R.C.) paved connecting roads to all parts of Mindanao. It has a fully air-conditioned 1,154 sqm Passenger Terminal Building with a 600-passenger capacity, with TVs, DVD Player, and WIFI. It has an R.C. wharf for foreign and domestic cargo and passengers. Berthing side has a 7m depth, and 47m for anchorage. It has 3 sections of 100m-long container berths with a load capacity of 40kPa, and an apron width of 20m with 5 RORO ramps of 400 sqm with a 20kPa load capacity. The wharf is protected by rubber fenders and provided with mooring facilities. For small vessels, a 10m depth is safe. For large vessels, 47m is the safe depth for anchorage. Anchorage has limited swing for large vessels. Services offered: cargo handling, porterage, ancillary, bunkering, water supply, tug, pilotage, line mooring.
TMO Butuan
When upgraded, the return on Baseport Nasipit’s capacity to service large cargo shipments in 40 ft containers would certainly help enhance the ongoing development in the CARAGA REGION, which is focused on tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, and currently being worked out by LGUs with the assistance of NEDA.
TMO Butuan has 14,500 sqm total area with 3,595 sqm open storage area, 2,540 sqm transit shed, 1,705 sqm Passenger Terminal Building, and 130-seater capacity Butuan Ferry Terminal Complex with canteen, rest rooms, ticket booth, public phone, TV, and DVD. Located in Butuan City is the Bancasi Domestic Airport, which provides access to major cities in the country. It has an R.C. wharf handling domestic cargo, and a 138-meter-long wharf with a 6m draft, and a 10m draft for anchorage. 7 fender pile clusters with 5 mooring bitts attached to the deck edge protect the wharf.
TMO Masao has 12,758 sqm total area with 6.544 sqm open storage area. Located 7 kms from Butuan City in Barangay Lumbocan, it connects to the city with concrete paved roads. It has an R.C. pier 98.8m long and 15m wide, and a 280m causeway approach for foreign and domestic vessels in transporting major commodities. Berthing side draft is 7m, and 75m for anchorage. Deck elevation is 3m with 250 lbs per sq ft load capacity. 3 fender pile clusters with 2 mooring bitts attached to the deck edge protect the pier. Services: cargo handling, porterage, ancilliary, bunkering, water supply, tug, pilotage, and line mooring.
The head of PMO-Agusan is Jose Maria Yares. He first entered PPA in November 1979, among the pioneer group of employees of Polloc Port located at Parang, Maguindanao. He was assigned to the Port Police Division (PPD) and became its Acting Chief, Investigation Section until mid-September 1995. Polloc Port was later turned-over by PPA to ARMM and became the Regional Port Authority by 07-August-2001. He was later assigned to the Port of Davao as Civil Security Officer-C with the PPD until January 2006. He was then transferred to PMO-Agusan in February 2006, and promoted to Port Police Chief Inspector on 15-March-2012 as Head, Operations Section of PPD. By 06-November-2015, he became a fully-fledged Division Manager-A as Station Commander, PP/Superintendent. On 17-July-2018, he assumed stewardship as Officer-In-Charge of PMO-Agusan. During his stint at the Port of Davao, he received commendations from PPA. Jose Maria Yares is a recipient of the Ginintuang Kagitingan Gantimpala conferred by Gen Mgr A.L. Cusi on 09-July-2004 for bravery during the bombing fronting Sasa Wharf, Port of Davao in April 2004, less than a month after Sasa Airport was hit on March 2004. On 12-March-1992, he was cited for exemplary performance by Gen Mgr R.A. Dayan, and previously by AGMO R.T. Santos on 08-February-1984.
Compound Average Growth Rate*
Port Operations Growth. During the period 2016-2018, Container Traffic (TEU) showed the highest growth in PMO-AGS’ port operations. Shipcalls showed a -12% downtrend. Passenger Traffic grew 6.4%; Container Traffic (TEU) grew 16%; RORO Traffic grew 14%; and Cargo Throughput (MT) showed a sharp -26% decline. Total Cargo Throughput (MT) on average is comprised of 24% domestic cargo and 76% foreign cargo. Domestic cargo throughput grew 1%, while foreign cargo showed a -33% decline.
