Construction of the long-delayed New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) in Tayud, Cebu City, has officially commenced. Led by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and other government officials, the groundbreaking marks the start of a USD 290 million (PHP 16.2 billion) project aimed at addressing congestion at the existing Cebu Baseport and enhancing the region’s logistics capacity.
Initially proposed in the early 2000s, the project faced prolonged approval delays but received final clearance in December 2024. The Philippine government signed a contract with South Korea’s HJ Shipbuilding, the project’s main contractor. The Import-Export Bank of Korea (KEXIM) is financing USD 172 million (PHP 9.6 billion), while the Philippine government is covering the remainder. The International Finance Corporation of the World Bank is acting as the transaction adviser.
The NCICP will be developed on 60 acres of reclaimed land and is designed to handle 395,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. Key infrastructure includes a 500-meter berth, a water depth of 12 meters, and five quayside cranes, allowing the terminal to accommodate two 2,000-TEU feeder vessels simultaneously. Completion is expected by 2028.
The Korean Embassy in Manila highlighted the project’s role in strengthening bilateral trade, particularly with the recent implementation of the Philippines-South Korea Free Trade Agreement on December 31, 2024. Trade and cargo volumes between the two countries are anticipated to rise significantly in the coming years.
The NCICP is part of a broader effort to enhance port infrastructure and improve supply chain connectivity across the Philippines. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recently issued tenders for the expansion of three additional ports—San Jose Port in Dinagat Islands, Roxas Port in Oriental Mindoro, and Guinsiliban Port in Camiguin—with a combined budget of USD 14 million (PHP 780 million).
(Source: The Maritime Executive)
