The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has resumed limited operations at Makar Port (Port of General Santos) following the completion of initial structural inspections and engineering assessments to ensure passenger safety after the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Southern Mindanao.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez assured port users and stakeholders that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the PPA are expediting rehabilitation efforts to restore full operations at the facility.
“The President has been urging us to expedite the renovation of the Port of GenSan, so together with our PPA under the leadership of General Manager Jay Santiago, we are really expediting the renovation of the port because it cannot be left idle for long because it is important to the residents of GenSan, especially since a large part of the economy depends on it,” Lopez said.
Based on the PPA Engineering Office assessment, the Rail-Mounted Gantry (RMG) Wharf has been declared structurally sound and is safe to accommodate regular vessel traffic and cargo operations.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the phased reopening is intended to restore critical supply chains and economic activity while maintaining strict safety standards.
“We saw in the assessment that the port’s operations will be affected, but it’s manageable, even if it’s limited. Before we opened it, we made sure that it was really safe for port users to use. We don’t want any malfunctions. Our compatriots in GenSan will suffer if its reopening takes longer,” Santiago said.
Shipping lines, cargo owners, truckers, and other stakeholders have been advised to closely coordinate with PMO SOCSARGEN regarding operational schedules, designated access routes, and temporary restrictions.
Santiago said the RMG Wharf and other designated safe areas will operate under controlled conditions and strict safety protocols.
However, several facilities remain closed pending further repair and evaluation. The damaged sections of the New Wharf Expansion will remain under controlled access, while the Eastern Wharf and Western Wharf will stay closed to operations.
The port’s north gate weighbridge has also been found to have sustained severe structural damage and will remain out of service. Authorities are implementing traffic management systems and alternative access arrangements to ensure continued cargo movement while maintaining safety within the port premises.
The PPA said it will continue monitoring the structural integrity of all facilities and carry out necessary rehabilitation works. Full resumption of operations across all port areas will be announced once assessments and repairs are completed.