President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the continuous expansion of the Batangas port will help decongest Manila ports and disperse economic activities across the Philippines.
“With the large volume of trade and passengers that it handles, the port of Batangas is so crucial that economic planners have underscored the importance of the continuous expansion of this major transportation hub to support the country’s economic transformation,” Mr. Marcos said during the inauguration of the P1.3-billion Batangas Port Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in Batangas City.
He attributed his claim to the port’s “multiple strategic roles.”
“It is a gateway to the nation’s dynamic capital region, a portal to agricultural powerhouses, access point to island tourism paradises, and a receiver of goods that fill and fuel the vibrancy of our economy,” Marcos said.
The President said that inaugurating the improved PTB maximizes the potential of the places and people being served by Batangas port, while validating its status as a port of national significance.
The Batangas port’s upgraded terminal building can now accommodate 8,000 passengers, more than thrice as much as its previous capacity of 2,500. This is in addition to the facility’s multilevel car storage that can handle 13,000 vehicles.
Moreover, the Batangas port’s annual passenger capacity has increased from 4 million to 12.8 million.
“Today’s activity is not only a reaffirmation of the importance of this port of Batangas, but it’s also a vote of confidence in the promising and positive future of the entire CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol regions,” Marcos said.