Media Statement
June 26, 2024
The Philippine business groups (PBGs) and members of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) have called on Senator Mark Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, to file and hear a counterpart Senate bill to House Bills 1400 and 8055. These bills aim to reform the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) by separating its regulatory and commercial functions in order to improve port operations and grow the economy.
The letter to Senator Villar states, “The proposed bill can be understood by the simple logic that an examiner cannot also be the examinee… We believe it is timely and relevant to separate the regulatory and development functions of PPA — not only to abide by the long-established state policy against conflict of interest, but also to allow the agency to focus on improving port operations, while Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will assume the regulatory functions over ports currently handled by the PPA. MARINA is the agency responsible for promoting and developing the maritime industry and regulating shipping enterprises.”
The letter also states, “For many years, news reports and studies have discussed inefficient management of Philippine ports, sometimes resulting in overcrowding of passengers at ports and on vessels, delayed trips, and worse, vessel-related accidents and fatal mishaps at sea. At the same time, the role of sea transport has become increasingly important in the nation’s strategy to maintain high levels of economic growth… As an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, it is impractical to connect all islands through only a network of airports. Sea travel is a very viable and essential mode of transportation to connect our islands… Adequate, efficient, safe, and affordable sea transport can exponentially increase the country’s competitiveness and output in both local and foreign trading networks.”
The full letter can be found here.
Signatories to the letters are:
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc.
Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc.
Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
Foundation for Economic Freedom
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc.
Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines
Management Association of the Philippines
Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association, Inc.
The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.
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