DoTr: Vax priority for transport hands
In so far as the PPA is concerned, we’re trying to work out a vaccination program for port workers and terminal operators
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is aiming for a comprehensive vaccination program for transportation stakeholders by the third quarter of the year.
In a briefing yesterday, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago bared a plan to roll out a separate vaccination program for port workers and terminal operators.
“In so far as the PPA is concerned, we’re trying to work out a vaccination program for port workers and terminal operators. We will have a comprehensive vaccination program, hopefully within the third or fourth quarter of the year,” Santiago told reporters.
Santiago noted that the rollout will start once “available vaccines arrive.”
Meanwhile, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran reiterated that transportation workers and stakeholders will be prioritized for vaccination as previously announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Volume remains modest
In another development, Santiago also pointed out that “it may take some time” before the cargo volume in the country’s seaports returns to pre-pandemic volume.
Santiago said that cargo volume declined to 230.44 million metric tons (MMT) in 2020, from 266.42 MMT in 2019 amid a challenging trade environment due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But as the economy slowly reopens, Santiago expressed confidence to see a cargo volume recovery this year.
“This year, we are looking at a cargo growth rate of about 7 percent to 246.70 MMT,” he said.
He added that for 2022, the PPA is only seeing a one percent cargo volume growth to 249.17 MMT and 3 percent growth in 2023 to 256.29 MMT.
The PPA chief said these are “optimistically conservative” projections given that the Covid-19 is still present.
He added that the cargo volume growth forecast is consistent with the projections of the economic managers that the economy will recover this year after seeing a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020.
This year, the economic team expects the economy to rebound to around 6.5 to 7.5 percent as business activities resume.
In terms of passenger traffic, the PPA forecasts around one to two percent growth from 2021 to 2023.
Particularly, passenger traffic volume is seen hitting 25.84 million this year from 24.79 million in 2020 — still far from the 83.72 million passengers recorded in 2019.
Passenger traffic is anticipated to reach 26.10 million in 2022 and 26.79 million in 2023.
Transportation workers and stakeholders will be prioritized for vaccination as previously announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.