Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon has urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to act on the business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.’s $166 million proposal to develop two Iloilo ports.
At a recent briefing attended by Ilonggo political leaders and business groups, Mr. Christian Gonzalez, International Container Terminal Services’s Global Corporate Head, revealed that the Razon-led ICTSI intends to invest P8.7 billion (over $166 million) to upgrade the Iloilo Port once the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) acts on its unsolicited proposal which is up for review by the PPA Board.
“The expansion of Iloilo Port sits well with our plans for the province. This early we are seeing a heightened shipping activity in the province due to the economic developments that have taken place in the province for the past years,” Senator Drilon said at the meeting.
“We have to develop our port and equip it with modern facilities so it can continue to accommodate the growing demands for port services.”
Drilon also said that the ICTSI’s plan is very timely given that Iloilo is poised to become a major exporter of agricultural products once the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project is completed in 2022.
During the briefing, Gonzalez added that the objective of ICTSI is to bring the Iloilo Port to world class levels by maximizing big ship capability.