Posted on June 18, 2025
ORIENTAL Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor), the exclusive cargo handling operator at Cebu International Port, is set to roll out new dredging equipment next month in a move aimed at boosting cargo throughput and operational efficiency, even as the maritime sector faces mounting global challenges.
The new equipment, expected to increase ground handling productivity to approximately 11 meters, forms part of Opascor’s broader strategy to enhance service levels and support port growth.
“This new investment signals our commitment to technology, speed, and service,” Opascor chairman Tomas Riveral during the company’s Partners’ Appreciation Night. “We believe that boosting efficiency is not just about infrastructure; it’s about serving our partners better.”
The announcement comes as Opascor navigates a volatile business environment, marked by declining cargo volumes, elevated financing costs and logistical disruptions. Riveral disclosed that the company lost two shipping lines in the second half of 2024 and that a key volume provider sharply reduced operations due to external financial distress.
Despite the setbacks, the port operator has stayed afloat through the continued backing of its network of shipping lines, logistics providers, government agencies and other stakeholders.
“Some of you even increased your volumes when others were retreating,” Riveral said, citing Evergreen International Shipping Agency, Fujitrans Corp. and SITC as among the companies that scaled up their cargo volumes. “This is not just a number on a chart; it’s a signal of enduring trust.”
Regulatory partners including the Cebu Port Authority, Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Immigration were also recognized, with Riveral praising Customs Collector Felipe Geoffrey K. De Vera IV, lawyer, for his “reformative and encouraging” leadership.
“His openness and gesture of determination to help the port of Cebu grow have inspired businessmen at a time when confidence is critical,” Riveral added.
The event also highlighted Opascor’s growing international ties, with a delegation from Vietnam’s Long An Port, its sister port, in attendance. “Despite the thousand-mile distance, they are here with us,” Riveral said. “It shows our commitment to bring the port of Cebu to the other corners of the world and to build bridges beyond our shores.”
Honorees included the Federation of Ecozone Service Providers – Visayas Chapter, represented by its president Leslie D. Lim, reflecting Opascor’s appreciation of the wider logistics and trade ecosystem.
Riveral credited Opascor’s employees, officers and board of directors for the company’s continued adaptability, and emphasized the company’s open-door approach to client support.
“If you have problems in the port, you can call our officers—and even call me. Even in the middle of the night, we will be responding to your calls. Our clients are the most important people in the life of Opascor,” he said.
Riveral called for continued collaboration across the port’s partner network,“We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we believe that together, we can achieve even greater things.”
