The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII-Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (IUDC) recognized the continuing efforts of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), through its Port Management Office (PMO) in Bicol, in improving the operations and services at the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon during its 4th Quarter Blended Meeting on 1 December 2022.
Currently, the PPA-PMO Bicol is undertaking projects to address the recurring problems in the said port, such as congestion and long truck queueing. These projects include the following: a) construction of a Complementary Port in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon with an ongoing feasibility study; b) installation of an Electronic Terminal Management System with a cloud-based online ticketing system, wherein the Port of Matnog is one of the targeted pilot ports; c) construction of dry port/truck holding area along the Maharlika Highway/within the vicinity of the Matnog Port.
In strong support to these projects, the RDC VIII, upon recommendation of the IUDC, passed Resolution No. 42, Series of 2022, entitled “Supporting the Proposed Projects of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to Address Congestion and Improve the Operations and Services in the Port of Matnog, Sorsogon.” The PPA-PMO Bicol is in turn requested to provide the Committee with timely updates on the progress of the abovementioned projects.
These interventions are aimed at an easy and hassle-free movement of goods and people, especially since the Port of Matnog serves as the transportation backbone in the country that connects Luzon and the Visayas down to Mindanao.
Article by: Josefina Ballesteros, PMED
