en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Philippine Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC) has awarded the consultancy services contract for the Poro Point Seaport Modernization Project to Isla Lipana & Co., also known as PwC Philippines, with a contract value of PHP 68.078 million, covering project preparation and transaction advisory services.
Located within the 236.5-hectare Poro Point Freeport Zone in La Union Province, the project aims to modernize the existing seaport. The expected outcome of the consultancy work is to identify the optimal public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, while taking into account the concerns of various stakeholders and existing regulations. PwC Philippines is a member firm of the global network of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited.
Previously, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) secured interim funding through the PPPC's Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) to hire consultants for end-to-end project preparation under the PPP model. In 2024, the Asian Development Bank signed a loan agreement with the Philippine government to inject additional funds into the PDMF. The project involves the financing, engineering design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Poro Point Seaport, which is currently operated by BCDA's subsidiary, Poro Point Management Corp.
BCDA stated that the project aims to transform the San Fernando International Seaport (SFIS), which currently handles only bulk cargo, into a fully containerized, world-class logistics hub. The port currently imports mainly petroleum products, cement, and fertilizers, and exports concentrates, timber, and gold. It occupies 30 hectares, of which approximately 15 hectares have been cleared and are owned by BCDA. BCDA has also reserved 50 hectares of industrial land adjacent to the seaport for expansion, modernization, and other ancillary facilities.
The project will achieve full containerization, specifically including the establishment of a container terminal and automated yard system, installation of quay and yard cranes to accelerate cargo turnover, expansion of storage and stacking areas, deployment of advanced terminal operating systems, gate automation, and digital freight management, improvement of road and future rail connectivity for seamless transport, and integration of gender, environmental, and climate safeguards into the planning and design. BCDA stated that upon completion, the facility will support regional industries and supply chains, positioning Poro Point as a strategic gateway for Northern Luzon. Construction for the modernization project is expected to commence in 2027 and be completed by 2029.
