Port of Surigao earns int'l, green port award
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -- The port of Surigao was recognized as a recipient of the prestigious Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Port Services Network (APSN) Green Port Award System (GPAS) for 2023.
Joining an elite group of 13 commended
ports from across the Asia Pacific Region, the port of Surigao will stand
proudly in this accolade and receive the limelight at a special ceremony that
will be held during the hybrid event of the APSN Forum on Innovative Ports for
a Low-carbon and Digital Future on October 24 to 25, 2023, in Bangkok, Thailand.
In a maritime descriptive review, the port of Surigao serves as the base port of the Port Management Office located in Surigao City on the northeastern coast of Mindanao.
With its strategic location and topography, making it an all-weather facility and ideal port of refuge, passengers and cargoes from Southern Leyte and even Agusan Del Sur and Agusan Del Norte are handled at this port, thereby elevating it as a premier port in the Caraga region.
Surigao Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla said that the GPAS is a rigorous evaluation system designed to recognize APEC ports that have been steadfastly implementing environmental sustainability programs in their operations for a minimum of two years.
He said that the GPAS evaluation committee scrutinized the port of Surigao's operational practices and found them to be deeply rooted in the principles of energy conservation, noise reduction, and the steadfast protection and preservation of the surrounding water, land, and air.
Moreover, the port community was instrumental in promoting environmental awareness, making the port of Surigao a shining example of a true green port.
"This outstanding achievement added another feather in the cap of the Philippine Ports Authority, which now proudly boasts three ports as distinguished GPAS awardees: the port of Cagayan de Oro, the port of Batangas, and now, the port of Surigao," Caturla said.
GPAS, officially launched in 2016, is a green evaluation system for ports in the APEC region developed by APSN. It represented an integral part of APSN’s ongoing efforts to promote the green growth of the APEC port industry. It is expected to better improve environmental awareness, promote the sustainable development green strategy, advance green interoperability, and share the best practices for ports in the APEC region that have the initiative to grow as the green ports. Joining the GPAS program will significantly lift the profile of ports and induce huge impacts on society.
This remarkable platform serves as a beacon for the exchange of best practices among APEC ports, fosters heightened environmental awareness throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and champions innovative solutions for green growth.
APSN is a non-profit organization established in 2008 to heed the call to promote economically and environmentally sustainable ports by strengthening cooperation, developing best practices and guidelines, enhancing supply chain effectiveness, building capacity, and stimulating information and personnel exchange among port and port-related industries and services in the Asia-Pacific region, with the goal of liberalizing and facilitating trade and investment to achieve the common prosperity of the APEC member economies.
At present, the APSN has a council comprising 18 APEC member economies. These include Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. (With report from PPA-PMO Surigao/SDR,PIA-Surigao del Norte)
