Industry harbors no interest in port
By VG Cabuag
Reporter

DOMINANT players in the Philippine shipping industry have disavowed any interest in operating the Manila North Harbor, which is expected to be turned over soon to a privately-run entity.
       Both the Philippines’ largest port company and the country’s biggest shipping entity maintained that they would rather focus on their main thrusts. Unfortunately, operating Manila’s busiest yet most inefficient port is not one of them.
       The International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said that it is not interested to bid for the facility since its focus is on acquiring small terminals around the world, developing it, and then reselling it at a premium. “Our international operations are very different from the domestic operations,” said Francis Andrews, senior vice president of ICTSI which manages the Manila International Container Terminal.
       Currently in an acquisition mode, ICTSI recently bought a 95-percent stake in Indonesian port operator PT Makassar Terminal Services for $5.6 million. ICTSI bought the 51-percent stake of Portek Systems &
       Equipment Pte Ltd and the rest from PT Pelayaran Neusantara Meratus, which retained the remaining 5-percent share in the terminal.
       It has also expressed intentions to operate ports across the globe, including the lone port in Guam, whose control remains in dispute.
       Andrews added that the company is not interested in acquiring domestic ports up for privatization. ICTSI has facilities in Batangas, Subic Bay, and in South Cotabato, but most of these performed below expectations owing to the economy’s sluggish growth.
       For its part, the Aboitiz Transport System Corp., the country’s largest shipping entity, expressed the same sentiments.
       Jon Ramon Aboitiz, ATSC chairman, said they would not bid for the North Harbor, even if the government allows shipping firms to operate the port. “We see no need to bid for North Harbor even if other shipping lines are planning to do so as we are based comfortably in South Harbor,” he said, adding that their current set up, run by Asian Terminals Inc., is much more convenient for their vessels and passengers as the facilities are secure and accessible.
       The government wants industry’s leading players to operate the North Harbor since it would have enough financial muscle to undertake modernization of the facility and, in the long run, make it profitable.