MICT, Manila South Harbor among 11 green port awardees
October 21, 2022
Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and Manila South Harbor have received this year’s 2022 Green Port Award System (GPAS) from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Port Services Network (APSN).
The two Manila terminals, which handle majority of the Philippines’ international trade, join nine other ports in the Asia Pacific that received the award at the recent APSN 2022 Forum in Manila.
These ports include:
Hutchison Ports (Thailand) Limited (Thailand)
Johor Port Authority (Malaysia)
Jurong Port (Singapore)
Kuantan Port (Malaysia)
Lannan Berth #15 of Lanshan Port, Port of Rizhao (China)
9 Branch Company of Qinhuangdao Port Co. Ltd (China)
Penang Port (Malaysia)
Salaverry Terminal Internacional S.A. (Peru)
Taicang Wugang Terminal (China)
“The Council of the APSN recognizes the high caliber and excellent environmental actions and leadership demonstrated by these recipients. Their efforts exemplify the commitments and contributions of marine shipping industry to the environmental responsibility,” the APSN said in a statement.
The GPAS program is a green evaluation system for ports in the APEC region that was developed by APSN to encourage green and sustainable development in ports and port-related industries.
With its implementation, the GPAS aims to improve environmental awareness, promote sustainable development, advance green interoperability and share best practices of ports in the Asia-Pacific region that are willing to grow as green ports.
By joining the GPAS program, a port signals that it highly values social responsibility, which, in turn, significantly raises its public image.
In a separate statement, Christian Gonzalez, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer of MICT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., thanked APSN for “recognizing our efforts in championing environmentally sustainable port activities at the Manila International Container Terminal”.
“Our work as a port operator demands that we maintain efficient operations all the time while contributing to continued sustainability of resources and decreasing adverse impact on the environment,” he added.
ICTSI said it has outlined its green strategy of integrating climate change management into MICT’s day-to-day operations with a goal of becoming the most sustainable terminal in the Philippines.
Aligned with the commitment to operate in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, MICT has implemented several environmental programs and activities, including improving waste and water management, circular economy initiatives, ecological protection and biodiversity programs, and decarbonation efforts.
Since its launch in 2016, the GPAS has been awarded to 45 ports in nine economies. For the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro and Batangas ports were conferred the GPAS in 2018, while CDO port was awarded again in 2021.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said last year it was preparing to implement its “Green Port” initiatives patterned after the GPAS to ensure sustainable port operations as part of its initiative to help mitigate climate change.
PPA said its green move also aims to complement the initiatives of its international partners, such as shipping lines, to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by ships as well as by port equipment to a more manageable level.
News Source: PortCalls
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