The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is strengthening the country’s port infrastructure and disaster response systems to ensure critical facilities remain operational amid increasingly severe weather events and other natural hazards.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the agency is investing in disaster preparedness, personnel training, and climate-resilient infrastructure as part of efforts to keep ports functioning during typhoons, earthquakes, floods and other emergencies.
“Ang mga pantalan natin ay hindi lang basta lugar kung saan sumasakay at bumababa ang mga pasahero o naglo-load at unload ng mga kargamento,” said Santiago.
He emphasized that ports play a crucial role during disasters because they serve as major entry points for essential supplies.
“During disasters, they can become even more critical dahil dito dumadaan ang pagkain, fuel, medical supplies, relief goods, at iba pang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Santiago said the PPA is also upgrading the design and structural capacity of ports nationwide while requiring climate- and disaster-resilience measures in the construction, rehabilitation and improvement of facilities.
The upgrades are particularly focused on ports located in areas vulnerable to earthquakes, liquefaction, typhoons, storm surges, strong waves and rising sea levels.
Among the improvements is the increase in pavement and deck load capacity from 500 pounds per square foot, or about 2.4 tons per square meter, to 750 pounds per square foot, equivalent to around 3.6 tons per square meter. Major ports equipped with ship-to-shore cranes may be designed to handle loads of up to 1,000 pounds per square foot.
Selected piers and wharves are also being elevated from about 3 meters to 3.5 meters above Mean Lower Low Water to provide additional protection against higher water levels and coastal hazards.
The PPA is likewise upgrading or building breakwaters in selected locations, including Abra de Ilog and Nasugbu in Batangas, with higher crest elevations designed to lessen the impact of waves and storm surges.
Other measures include reinforced concrete wharf piers supported by concrete or steel piles, as well as deflector walls in backup areas where wave overtopping has been recorded, including the ports of Virac and Legazpi.
The agency is also adjusting the design of rock causeways and retaining structures according to the specific geographic and environmental conditions of each port.
Santiago said the PPA ensures that relevant provisions of the National Structural Code of the Philippines are observed in the planning and engineering of port facilities.
“Seismic loads, wind loads, and other relevant engineering parameters are taken into account on this aspect. Beyond physical infrastructure, operational measures are in place to guide port personnel when hazards threaten normal activities,” said Santiago.
Aside from physical upgrades, the PPA is conducting regular disaster drills, simulations and scenario-based exercises to assess the readiness of its personnel and facilities.
Under the agency’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Manual, Port Management Offices implement emergency protocols based on the type and severity of a hazard. These measures include coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, local disaster risk reduction offices, local government units, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other agencies.
Port-level disaster teams are also maintained to carry out emergency measures, assist passengers and other affected stakeholders, and ensure timely communication with PPA management.
The agency’s preparations take into account the Philippines’ high exposure to natural hazards. The country was ranked first in the 2024 WorldRiskIndex, reflecting its vulnerability to disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods and storm surges.
For Santiago, the country’s geographic vulnerability highlights the need to strengthen critical infrastructure, particularly ports that connect islands and facilitate the movement of people, food, fuel, medical supplies and other essential goods.
He said the PPA is therefore pursuing modern, risk-based engineering solutions supported by technology and local data.
“By combining risk-informed engineering, strengthened infrastructure, regular preparedness exercises, emergency response protocols, inter-agency coordination, and continuity planning, the PPA continues to prepare its ports not only to withstand natural hazards, but also to remain dependable lifelines for the Filipino people when they are needed most,” said Santiago.