21 SEPTEMBER 2026 — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) are deepening cooperation in port development and management following the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at promoting knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the adoption of international best practices in the Philippine port sector.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago and PoABI Head of Business Development Maartje Driessens signed the MOU, which establishes a framework for cooperation in areas including port operations, planning and optimization, digitalization, sustainability, safety, service quality, governance, and capacity building.

According to Santiago, the partnership covers potential cooperation in port operations, port planning and optimization, port and terminal performance, digitalization and smart port applications, port safety and operational risk management, sustainability and green port operations, service quality management, and operational governance.

“This will provide opportunities for capacity building on operational readiness for public-private partnership (PPP) port projects, port crisis and emergency response management, cruise port development, and port strategy, as well as the exploration of potential investment opportunities related to port development,” said GM Santiago.

Meanwhile, PoABI sees strong opportunities for knowledge exchange with PPA, particularly as the Philippine port sector continues to pursue modernization and improvements in infrastructure, digitalization, sustainability, and safety.

“The Philippine Ports Authority is clearly moving toward full modernization of its port network, including upgrading physical infrastructure, digitizing operations, and strengthening green and safety standards,” Driessens said. She also cited several PPA initiatives that caught PoABI’s attention, including improvements in passenger facilities, disaster resilience engineering, the implementation of ORAS and real-time data, as well as sustainability initiatives such as shore-based power supply and renewable energy.

“These are initiatives where we can definitely learn from each other’s best practices and accelerate our growth strategies,” she added.

Driessens also highlighted PPA’s public-private partnership initiatives as an area with potential for further knowledge sharing and international cooperation, noting that such approaches can contribute to improved port performance and efficiency. The collaboration likewise covers security and inter-agency integration, including efforts to connect port systems with other government agencies to provide more seamless services for port users.

PoABI provides consultancy, advisory, training, and management solutions for port and terminal-related projects internationally. Its participation in the partnership provides PPA with an opportunity to engage with international expertise and best practices in port development and management.

Also representing PPA during the engagement were Assistant General Manager for Operations Atty. Mark Jon Palomar, Assistant General Manager for Finance, Legal and Administration Elmer Cadano, and Assistant General Manager for Engineering Engr. James Gantalao.

Representatives from the Belgian diplomatic and maritime sectors were likewise present, including Ambassador of Belgium to the Philippines Vladislava Iordanova, Consul and Embassy Secretary Marta Hermez, Embassy Head of Visa Heidi Reyntjens, BFBC Maritime Subcommittee Head and Board Member Leslie Suntay, Belgian Trade Office Commercial Assistant Jane Santos, and Consular Officer Naomi Serrano.

The five-year partnership provides a platform for PPA and PoABI to sustain technical exchanges, share port management practices, and explore opportunities that can support the continued development, efficiency, sustainability, and innovation of Philippine ports.

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