spot_img
28.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

ATI investing P3.8b in Manila, Batangas

- Advertisement -

Port operator Asian Terminals Inc. said Tuesday it will invest P3.8 billion in 2016 primarily to improve port operations in Manila and Batangas.

The company said the amount was a part of the P8-billion, three-year capital expenditure program that started in 2015.

ATI said in a regulatory filing it would continuously optimize its ports in Manila and Batangas for containerized cargo, non-containerized cargo and passenger handling to keep the vital gateway port facilities competitive and responsive to market demands.

The company said it would focus on upgrading the capacity of Batangas, which was being positioned as the future growth for both the domestic passenger and roll-on/roll-off segments and the international container cargo business.

“As a forward-looking company, ATI keeps its eyes open for more business growth drivers, including exploring new port operations locally or overseas, given the right opportunity,” ATI said.

- Advertisement -

The port operator saw net income in 2015 fall 7 percent to P1.76 billion from P1.9 billion in 2014, as revenues slowed 1.1 percent to P8.14 billion from P8.24 billion a year ago.

Port authorities’ share in revenues in 2015 declined 14.9 percent year-on-year.

ATI said revenues from South Harbor’s international containerized cargo went down by 1.3 percent, on lower container volume. However, revenues of South Habor’s non-containerized cargo increased 14.7 percent.

Revenues from Batangas Container Terminal and Port of Batangas climbed 57.5 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively. 

Cost and expenses in 2015 increased 3.3 percent to P3.73 billion billion from P3.59 billion billion in 2014.

ATI said last month the online terminal appointment booking system or the government’s innovative solution to boost Philippine supply-chain lifted the company’s port operations.

The port operator said it was handling more truck transactions with quicker truck turnaround time since implementing the system in October last year, thereby facilitating faster flow of commodities to the market.

From processing around 800 trucks in a 12-hour shift prior to TABS, ATI said Manila South Harbor was now servicing over 1,000 trucks on the average, for over 20-percent increase in production.

The online booking system works like an airline booking system, which allows customs brokers to conveniently schedule the pickup and delivery of containers at Manila ports. Booking is done by selecting time slots across the 24-hour, seven-day week period. 

ATI said the process enabled brokers to rationally plan deliveries once port fees and Customs duties were settled.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles