Razon firm plans to invest P8.7 billion in Port of Iloilo

• Source:https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/razon-firm-plans-to-invest-p8-7-billion-in-port-of-iloilo/
• Monday, May 27, 2019

(TDG)

BUSINESSMAN Enrique Razon’s International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is willing to plunk in P8.7 billion to develop the Port of Iloilo in Iloilo City, particularly the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex in Brgy. Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City.

In a briefing before Ilonggo political leaders and business groups on May 24, 2019 in Makati City, ICTSI Global Corporate Head Christian Gonzalez said the investment aims to upgrade the Iloilo port complex once the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) acts on its unsolicited proposal which is up for review by the PPA Board.

Among those present in the briefing were Senator Franklin Drilon, Mayor-elect Jerry Trenas, Congresswoman-elect Julienne “Jam Jam” Baronda, and Ilonggos business community represented by Narzalina Lim, Jocelyn Perez, Engr. Terence Uygongco, Rex Drilon and Francis Gentoral of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILED).

Gonzalez said that when the traffic limit in the Iloilo port is about to be reached, the port in Dumangas, Iloilo will be developed.

Fourth district Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron earlier welcomed ICTSI’s desire to improve Dumangas port which is located in his constituency.

Biron has also included the development and upgrading of the Dumangas port into international standards in his campaign platform.

Biron added that he will lobby with the PPA to consider ICTSI’s plans for the Dumangas port development project.

During the briefing, Gonzalez revealed ICTSI’s objective to modernize Iloilo Port to world class levels:

- maximizing big ship capability;

- installing ship-to-shore gantry cranes; and continuously

- upgrading yard capacity aligned to traffic studies.

The form also plans to build a terminal for cruise ship passengers, to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Development Plan.

Gonzalez said that with their development plans, Iloilo can be the major regional transhipment hub for the Visayas.

Additionally, the agri-aqua products of Iloilo can be shipped to domestic and foreign markets in refrigerated containers, driving costs down, making them very competitive.

In an interview with the Daily Guardian on Air over Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo on May 25, 2019, Treñas also welcomed ICTSI’s keen interest in developing the port of Iloilo.

Treñas said he will ensure full cooperation of the Iloilo City government so that the road network to and from the port is upgraded to accommodate the expected traffic.

Local incentives will also be reviewed to make it attractive for exporters and importers to use the port.

ILED chairperson Narzalina Lim offered to mobilize all the business associations in Iloilo to throw their support behind the ICTSI proposal and write a letter to PPA to accelerate the process of review and approval of the Original Proponent Status of ICTSI.

In a statement, Drilon said 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.”

The megadam project will irrigate 31,000 hectares of rice land, doubling the rice production of Iloilo.

The senator also urged the PPA to act on ICTSI’s unsolicited proposal.