๐๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
With an aim to elevate the standards of ports and maritime trade in the country, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, along with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), led the groundbreaking of the Berth 8 of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) today, 29 May 2023.
This marks the start of the construction of the new berth, which measures 400 meters of quay length, along with 12 hectares of yard space that will be built in phases.
Once the berth 8 is completed, the MICT is slated to have an annual capacity of 3.5 million TEUsโpositioning it as the largest international gateway for trade, in the country.
Following the ceremony, Secretary Bautista was joined by DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Chief of Staff Reinier Paul Yebra, Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Sarmiento, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, ICTSI Executive Vice President Christian Gonzalez, MICT Executive Director Philip Marsham, and NorthPort Executive Director Mariano Turnes, in a site visit at the MICT and the Manila North Port.
They also conducted a walk-through at the high-end surveillance center of the ICTSI, that can monitor all the ports under its jurisdiction. Moreover, they discussed ICTSIโs investment and initiatives on technology and digitization that shall further enhance operational efficiency, such as the launching of the ICTSI mobile app, that enables port usersโ to access real-time visibility and monitoring of cargo.