Port revenues plunge 79% in March; PPA eyes restoring sea travel

MANILA, Philippines — Revenues of ports operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) plunged by as much as 79% in March due to quarantine protocols imposed amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the country.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago on Wednesday said it is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) into allowing sea travel again, especially in areas under the general enhanced community quarantine (GCQ).

He added that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is likewise talking to shipping firms to allow passenger vessels to operate.

“Tayo ay nagtala ng mga areas na under GCQ, nagtala na rin tayo ng mga areas na ang mga LGU ay pumapayag na pwede na ang pampasaherong biyahe,” he said in a Laging Handa press briefing.

(We have already listed areas under GCQ, we also have listed areas where LGUs allow passenger sea trips.)

“Ang Marina naman ay nakikipag ugnayan naman sa mga shipping companies, sa mga barko, kung maaaring pwede na nilang pabiyahehin ang kanilang mga barko doon sa mga areas na allowed na ang passenger vessels,” Santiago added.

(Marina is coordinating with shipping companies to allow passenger travel.)

Metro Manila and other areas were placed under the enhanced community quarantine last March to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The lockdown, which also restricted sea travel, has been extended twice until May 15.

With the reopening of sea travel in some areas, Santiago said the PPA is hoping to ramp up revenues but admitted that it would not match the revenues it collected in the past years.

“Dahil sa enhanced community quarantine, sa dinulot nitong COVID-19 pandemic, naapektuhan ang revenues ng ating mga pantalan,” he said.

(Because of the ECQ and the effects brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, revenues in ports were affected.)

“Ngayon umaasa tayo na sa paunti-unting pagluwag ng mga areas under GCQ, unti-unti pong makakarecover tayo sa pagbagsak ng revenue pero hindi tayo umaasa na matutularan natin ang revenues natin sa mga nakaraang taon,” the PPA official added.

(We are hoping that with the easing of quarantine protocols under GCQ, we will recover gradually from the drop in revenues but we admit we cannot replicate the revenues we had in previous years.)