International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), a port development company led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr., said Monday it is investing $800 million to build a new international container terminal in Bauan, Batangas.
ICTSI said the new terminal would be the largest privately-funded marine terminal investment in the country’s history and would ultimately be the second-largest container facility after the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in the Port of Manila.
The company said with design and engineering studies well underway, it would begin construction in the first quarter of 2025.
The terminal, whose first berth is scheduled for completion by end-2027, is seen to become a catalyst for economic growth across Southern Luzon, creating jobs and accelerating regional development. It is also expected to play a role in providing the marine handling needs required by the country’s renewable energy transition strategy for Southern Luzon.
Upon completion, the terminal will feature up to 900 meters of quay and at least 8 ship-to-shore gantry cranes and an estimated capacity of over 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum.
“The new terminal represents a significant leap forward for Southern Luzon. We are building a world-class facility that will unlock a wave of economic benefits for the region and the country,” said ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonzalez.
“It will create new employment opportunities, improve the quality of life for our host communities and the industries located around the terminal, and solidify Southern Luzon’s position as a key player in global trade,” Gonzales said.
Gonzalez said the new terminal complements ICTSI’s strategy of providing a national network of ports with ICTSI’s brand of operational synergy to further improve the country’s supply chain and competitiveness in global trade.
Located 120 kilometers south of Manila and nine kilometers west of Batangas City, the Bauan facility will become the premier international gateway for shippers based in the CALABARZON region which includes Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces, and the most modern container terminal in the country.
Situated within a natural cove, Bauan is a first-class municipality in Batangas province known for its agro-industrial strength.
CALABARZON continues to be one of the Philippines’ fastest-growing regions, reaching a 5.2-percent growth in 2023, according to latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority. The region’s gross domestic product reached 3.10 trillion, representing 15 percent of the Philippines’ total GDP.
