Currimao, Ilocos Norte—Amidst the decline in ship traffic in this town’s international seaport, the cargo traffic volume had increased by 67 percent as a result of the high demand for limestone and iron ore which are exported to other Asian countries from this port, Jerome A. Balisi, division manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) based in the Currimao port, said. Domestic cargo traffic also showed positive gains due to the increase in demand for fertilizers and petroleum products despite these commodities’ prices’ continued increase. With a total of 45 vessels, or an increase of 105 percent compared to 2004 figures, the Ilocos Norte Mining Co. Inc. private conveyor pier in Barangay Gabut Norte in neighboring Badoc town, which is operating on a per-vessel temporary permit from the PPA, had contributed in the increase in ship and cargo operations, Basili noted. Based on 2005 statistics report, however, transshipment cargoes plunged by more than 35 metric tons (MT), or 32 percent, from the previous year. Balisi explained that the decrease in transshipment was attributed to the frequent rough sea conditions prevalent over the Currimao waters as well as other sea shipping lanes in the country. As for the generated revenues from port operations for 2005, Balisi reported that the TMO-Currimao recorded a 34 percent increase in gross revenues amounting to more than P12 million as compared to the P9 million generated for 2004. Port records also showed that the decrease in foreign ship calls did not adversely affect vessel-based charges and instead contributed a significant share on revenues with a total of P3.9 million for 2005 compared to only P2.4 million in 2004. Other charges such as non-traditional earnings of the port also added in the increase in revenue due to the rental rate increases—or the so-called right-of-way fee of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. which took effect on February 2003 and was only collected this year due to a supplemental agreement between the PPA and Shell. As the Philippine peso gained strength late last year and with the aggressive marketing strategy of the PPA, making the Currimao port as an alternative gateway in the transportation of domestic and foreign goods—including the proposed luxury ship venture for tourists—Balisi is optimistic the port’s revenues will continue to increase this year. Leilanie G. Adriano
|
|