The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is stepping up its “green port” initiatives at the ports it manages after the ports of Batangas and Cagayan de Oro were conferred the Green Port Award System (GPAS) awards by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Port Services Network (APSN).
A green evaluation system for ports in the APEC region, the GPAS program is intended to improve environmental awareness and increase the understanding of the green port development strategy. It aims to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental protection at APEC ports; promote sustainable development of ports in the region and protect the port environment for the benefit of the entire APEC community; contribute to the harmonization of regulations and improved interoperability of green port systems in the APEC region; establish an APEC green port performance benchmark; and share best practices and encourage mutual assistance among APEC ports.
PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago said the awards are a testament to initiatives of the port authority to protect the environment by reducing the carbon footprint of its port operations.
“We are slowly reaping the benefits of our hard work particularly in complying with the stringent requirements on environmental management and occupational safety and health,” Santiago said.
“With the 25 port management offices including Batangas and CDO almost fully certified on Quality Management System, Environmental Management System and Occupation Safety and Health System, we expect similar awards in the future for all our ports,” Santiago added.
“Rest assured that the PPA is fully committed towards environmental protection and sustainable port operations,” the PPA chief said.
Batangas and Cagayan de Oro ports, both ISO 9001:2008 certified, were recognized for implementing the Port Safety, Health and Environmental Management System (PSHEMS). The two ports are now slowly migrating to the Integrated Management System, fusing in three international standards, namely, ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management System, and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 for Occupational Safety and Health. This migration is to further solidify the ports’ quality, safety, health and environmental policies, and uphold their commitment to protect the environment, provide safe and healthy working conditions, and improve the quality of port operations and services.
Located 110 kilometers south of Metro Manila, the 150-hectare Batangas port is the center of transportation of goods produced in the hinterlands of Batangas province, and is a strategic trading point for all industries in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Products handled by the port include cement, logs, minerals, completely built motor vehicles, and other general cargo. Container traffic at Batangas Container Terminal is also continuously growing.
PPA said the completed Batangas Port Development Project has two components: Phase I caters to domestic vessels and non-containerized foreign vessels while Phase 2 is dedicated to international container vessels.
Cagayan de Oro port, on the other hand, is dubbed as the global gateway to Mindanao for its strategic location on the northern coast of the region. The port serves as the entry and exit point of passengers and goods to and from the adjacent urban cities and provinces and other parts of the country. It also links conveyances to countries such as Vietnam, China, Australia, and the United States.
