PPA@49: SA PROGRESIBONG PANTALAN, AASENSO ANG BAYAN PPA celebrates 49 years of growth

By Patricia Taculao

THIS year, the PPA is celebrating its 49th anniversary under the theme “Sa progresibong Pantalan, aasenso ang bayan,” alluding to the institution’s continuing bid for innovation. The celebrations last from July 10 to 14 to commemorate the achievements, milestones, and constant progress that has shaped the world of the PPA throughout its 49 years in the industry.

Since the 1970s, the PPA has upheld its mission of providing modern, sustainable, and resilient port infrastructures and facilities. Its recent undertaking is developing and operating ports that cater to the needs of local and global clients using best practices and state-of-theart technologies.

The PPA’s responsibilities include offering responsive, reliable, and efficient port services while promoting a transparent, fair, and relevant regulatory framework in pursuit of a national development program. This agency also leads the charge to establish, develop, regulate, manage, and operate a rationalized national port system to support trade. Stakeholders from across the Philippines can join the various activities the PPA planned to highlight the authority’s achievements and relevance to the Filipinos.

Looking back at PPA’s successes

Every government agency and industry in the Philippines felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But PPA’s 2021 Annual Report claimed that the country’s maritime transport sector remained resilient and showed remarkable recovery in the same year.

The economic growth in 2021, which posted a 5.6 percent increase in GDP from the negative 9.5 percent recorded in 2020, was ultimately the result of the government’s economic stimulus packages, reopening of the domestic markets, and gradual lifting of restrictions such as those in the supply chain of essential goods, and trade in general.

Such developments positively influenced the country’s overall trade and shipping performance during the year in review. Driven by the favorable outcome in shipping and trade volume, PPA generated a total revenue of P17.673 billion during the year. It also coincides with PPA’s bid to help the Philippines in “Healing As One Maritime Nation.”

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