GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 10 Feb) – The city’s Makar Port is getting a major makeover this year through an innovative clean and green initiative of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Luis Cuison, PPA General Santos manager, said they adopted a year-round cleanup and greening program for the port as part of their bid to further improve the operations and services delivery at the facility.
Dubbed “Gandang Pantalan sa GenSan,” he said the initiative mainly aims to transform the port as an environment-friendly facility and one of the country’s cleanest and greenest.
“This advocacy will complement with the developments lined up at the facility this year,” Cuison said.
As part of the program, Cuison said they will launch a series of tree planting activities within the port compound and adjacent areas.
He said they will specifically plant bamboos, which are considered as quite efficient in terms of absorbing air toxins.
The agency will also reinforce their sanitation and waste management policies to improve the cleanliness of the port area, he said.
Cuison said the program’s implementation will involve all government agencies and private entities operating at the port.
He specifically cited the Maritime Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs and the South Cotabato Integrated Port Services Inc.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera expressed support to the initiative and offered the local government assistance in its implementation.
He said the program augurs well with the city and national government’s preparations for the looming integration of the economies of 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“This advocacy will certainly complement the further developments for the Makar Port in preparation for the ASEAN economic integration,” he said.
The official was referring to the implementation of various projects under the port’s continuing modernization program, which had received a funding of P1.3 billion from the national government.
The Makar Port, which is considered as Mindanao’s third busiest port, is the main sea gateway of Region 12.