Finance Secretary Ralph Recto expressed optimism Friday about the future of the Port of Batangas, stating that upcoming developments will solidify its role as the logistics powerhouse of Southern Luzon.
Recto cited the Phase II expansion of the Batangas Container Terminal and the entry of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) as key drivers of this growth.
Recto also praised the port for its information and communications technology (ICT) initiatives, such as the Marine Traffic App, the ATI Mobile Port App and the VIN Decoder App, which track vessels in real time. The port also uses a centralized dashboard to track collections and cargo, as well as a Doc Tracker to streamline document processes.
“For we know that every delay cut, every leak plugged, every peso saved from corruption — is a peso earned for the Filipino people,” Recto said.
The Port of Batangas boasts an average annual collection of P224 billion, representing 24.5 percent of the total revenue collection of the Bureau of Customs.
It has performed strongly this year with a revenue collection of P194.73 billion from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2025, which is 5.53 percent higher than the same period last year.
Handling an average of 133 vessels per month, or about four vessels daily, the port moves more than 1.6 billion metric tons of goods monthly and processes around 374 containers each day, making it one of the busiest and most productive ports in the country.
In August 2025, Batangas was recognized as a top performing port after its actual collection of P20.01 billion surpassed the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) target of P19.68 billion. For the month of October, its actual revenue collection of P22.96 billion also exceeded its DBCC target by 5.90 percent.
Motor vehicles and oil remain the top revenue drivers of the port, accounting for over 85 percent of total collections. Its top importers — Toyota Motor Philippines, Shell Pilipinas and Unioil Petroleum — together contribute over 38 percent of total revenues.
“With much of that revenue coming from motor vehicles, fuel, and petroleum products, we can say that this is the port that keeps our cars running and our cities powered,” the finance chief said.
He reaffirmed that the Department of Finance will intensify port inspections nationwide to ensure that reforms and anti-corruption efforts deliver tangible results.
“Investors don’t just look at our economic data. What matters more is how we move our goods, how we enforce our rules, and how we protect their trust. So, let’s make our ports not just gateways of goods, but gateways of good governance,” he added.
The finance chief urged the Port of Batangas to continue leading by example in good governance, efficiency and service excellence.
