MANILA, Philippines — State-run Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is speeding up the digitalization of its transactions not only to streamline its procedures, but also to minimize corruption.
The PPA wants to proceed with the digitalization of ports nationwide, as it hopes to cut the time required to complete transactions to hasten the flow of trade.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the digitalization of ports would eliminate opportunities for corruption that raises the cost of doing business in the Philippines.
“This digitalization is our priority right now within the PPA to prevent the usual issues that people have to deal with in transacting at the ports. When it’s all done and everything is online, we can reduce their waiting time and there would be no hassle in their trips,” Santiago said in Filipino.
Santiago also wants to prioritize expanding the reach of PPA’s communication lines.
He explained that this way the agency could promote transparency in the projects that it implements and the agreements that it enters into.
“I hope we can revive the economy from the pandemic through digitalization as this would be a huge step toward fixing the services of the government,” Santiago said.
“For us in the PPA, we stand ready to streamline our processes at the ports and eliminate third-party operators or fixers,” he added.
The Department of Budget and Management has allocated a total of P12.47 billion to deliver all the digitalization programs of the government for 2023.
In October President Marcos reassigned Santiago as the general manager of the PPA. Prior to the appointment, he led the PPA under the Duterte administration.
Santiago said he was directed by Marcos to raise the efficiency of ports, both in terms of service and infrastructure. Apart from this, the PPA chief was tasked to transfer port operations, as well as management, to digital channels to simplify procedures for stakeholders.
“We commit to his Excellency our unrelenting effort and determination to improve and bring our ports to even greater heights, both in terms of services and infrastructure, with special focus on his mandate for the digitalization of port operations and management for greater port efficiency, reasonable logistics cost and enhanced comfort and safety for our countrymen,” Santiago said.
Santiago also vowed that the PPA would work on making logistics cost reasonable in compliance with the order issued by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.