$21.8m needed to "rehabilitate" Tacloban port

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said that the old city wharf in Tacloban, Manila, needs to be fully "rehabilitated" in order to cope with the higher volumes of cargo traffic expected in the coming years, BusinessWorld reported.

The cost of the project has been estimated at US$21.8 million. The proposal has been sent to the PPA engineering department for evaluation, after which it will be forwarded to the PPA board for funding approval.

"We are concerned that if it isn't be rehabilitated very soon, the structures may just give in. The evidence of weakening is very visible," PPA Tacloban Port Manager Winfred Elizalde said.

Some parts of the wharf, Elizalde pointed out, were built as early as 1936.

"Since it was constructed, no rehabilitation efforts have been made. It is still being used but we've imposed load limits from five tonnes to 15 tonnes."

"There's a need to rehabilitate the old deck piles as we expect an increase in cargo vessel arrivals over the next few years as construction booms in the city," Elizalde added.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)