The Philippine Ports Authority is a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation under the Department of Transportation as an attached agency. it was created under Presidential Decree number 505 also known as Philippine Port Authority Decree of 1974, which was subsequently amended by P.D. number 857 in December 1975. The main function of the Agency is to facilitate the implementation of an integrated program for the planning, development, financing, operation and maintenance of ports or port districts for the entire country.

Under the PPA are twenty-five Port Management Offices across the country.  One of these is PMO SOCSARGEN. This PMO has under its jurisdiction, one major port and four terminal ports all around southern Mindanao area. These are, Port of General Santos in General Santos City, Terminal Port of Glan in Sarangani Province, Terminal Port of Kalamansig and Port of San Roque in Sultan Kudarat, and the Terminal Port of Mabila in Davao Occidental.

The Port of General Santos, also known as Makar Wharf serves as the Philippines’ “sea gateway” to the SOCSARGEN Region. Strategically located in General Santos City and situated at the heart of Sarangani Bay, Makar Wharf is gifted with naturally deep harbor and a virtually-typhoon free location. It is also equipped with modern facilities, infrastructures and management systems that are capable of providing world class service to its clientele, the people of General Santos City and other nearby provinces.

With an area of one hundred fifty-eight thousand and six hundred nineteen (158, 619) square meters, Makar Wharf has an eight hundred fifty-one (851) meter length Berthing area, with nine (9) berths, that can accommodate five (5) vessels, foreign or domestic, at the same time. It also has four (4) Container yards with a total of forty thousand eight hundred twenty (40, 820) square meters than can store up to four thousand six hundred (4600) dry containers, and a reefer rack facility that can accommodate up to two hundred and four (204) Reefer Container vans plugged in all at the same time. Other terminal facilities and equipment like weighbridge, transit sheds, livestock marshalling yard, open storage area, water system, dangerous goods area, mobile cargo x-ray, and passenger terminal building are also available inside the port.

The center of the operation of Makar Wharf is The Port Operations Building or POB Complex. It houses the Port Integrated Clearance Office or PICO, where Cargo, vessel and other maritime transactions takes place. PICO is a one stop shop created to facilitate uninterrupted service and provide a better experience to all ports users. services like data encoding, marine services, Terminal operation, assessment, collection, processing of access pass were put together in one place to give fast and efficient customer service to all ppa clients. There’s also a multi- function sports facility inside the complex; a covered court constructed to promote work-life balance among employees, that can also serve as a venue to other PMO activities.

The port of General Santos is an Integrated Management Systems or IMS certified port, and is compliant to the International Ship and Port Facility Security or ISPS code. It also utilizes a computerized system under iPORTS and ORACLE System that covers Data encoding, computation of charges and payment; as well as a computerized system for customer queuing. All these are in place to ensure a smooth and efficient process in transacting with PPA frontline service. Online/ electronic application is also available for Permit to Operate or PTO under the ePMS, TAPPPPS for Trucking/ Transport Services, and eAS for PPA Accreditation of Port Services Providers.

The Philippine Ports Authority is gearing towards the future of port management. Guided by the PPA’s Mission and Vision, and anchored on its Core Values, the Port of General Santos will continue to provide a world class public service to the people of General Santos City, the SOCSARGEN area and the rest of its clientele for years to come.

The Terminal Port of Glan, situated in the municipality of glan, saragani province it is the only port that consists the Terminal Management Office of Sarangani, and supervised by PMO SOCSARGEN under the Philippine Ports Authority.

The Executive Order no. 125 of December 21, 2012 placed the port of Glan under the administrative jurisdiction of PPA. The idea is to define the Port zone of Glan for planning, development of the necessary port facilities, and proper utilization of the Port, to help improve the services it offers and to support the demands of shipping trade within the area.

With the port area of 1000 square meters, and a 1000-meter length berthing area with 2 berths, it can accommodate 1 cargo and 1 passenger vessel at the same time. It also has a 100sqm passenger terminal building equipped with a computerized system and can cater up to 100 passengers all at once.

The Port of Glan is slowly becoming the center of sea trade and tourism in the Municipality of Glan and some part of Sarangani Province. access to nearby beaches and other natural reserves through Sarangani bay is now easier than ever and Local economy is growing because of the smooth flow of goods and other services through land and sea. With the help of PPA, the Port of Glan will continue to develop to become one of the established landmark in Sarangani Province and be an integral part of its growing Economy.

The Terminal Management Office of Sultan Kudarat, is composed of two Terminal Ports, and these are The Port of Kalamansig and Port of San Roque.

The Terminal Port of Kalamansig is situated in the Coastal Municipality of Kalamansig, Province of Sultan kudarat, where the main means of livelihood of the people are farming and fishing. Being the center of sea trade in the region It serves as the main Port and has adequate Port Facilities and Berthing area to support the localities needs in terms of shipping trade.

The Terminal Port of San Roque is situated in Barangay San Roque, Municipality of Palimbang, Province of Sultan Kudarat. Like kalamansig, Palimbang is also a coastal town where people also depend in farming and specially fishing, which is the main reason the port mostly cater to fishing vessels.

The Philippine Ports Authority is working hand in hand with the Local Government of Palimbang and Kalamansig in developing the Terminal Management Office of Sultan Kudarat for the people, and for the future of shipping trade industry in the region.

The Terminal Port of Mabila, is situated in Municipality of Sarangani, Province of Davao Occidental. Mabila is one of the 8 barangays of Balut Island, and is known as the commercial center of the town.

Due to the island’s natural gift, The Port of Mabila became the main point of entry for tourists and travelers who want to visit the beaches and experience the natural beauty of the island. With the help of PPA, under the management of PMO-SOCSARGEN the Port of Mabila has been established as the gateway to Sarangani Islands and the rest of the Municipality of Sarangani.