Asian Terminals expands Batangas operations

MANILA, Philippines - Listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is expanding its operations at the Batangas Port by providing integrated ports and logistics services at the Batangas Container Terminal (BCT).

At the recently concluded Ports and Shipping Conference hosted by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), ATI said all infrastructure and systems are now seamlessly in place at the BCT.

With the addition of BCT, ATI’s modern Batangas Port is now a one-stop competitive hub for containerized and general cargoes, ro-ro vessels and passengers benefiting South Luzon and nearby locations, ATI said in a statement.

ATI said business locators in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon or the Calabarzon area, which now ship via the Batangas Port, get a big boost from government with significant discounts on port dues from the PPA and incentives from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

The Bureau of Customs, meanwhile, provides fast response time and online transactions for the expedient processing and release of cargoes.

Third-party truck services are also available at the BCT, making trucking and logistics services more competitive.

BCT’s proximity to Calabarzon industrial zones – within five- to 70 kilometers – also makes it ideal for locators because trucks can complete multiple trips 24/7, especially since there is no truck ban in Batangas.

“Synergies are now in place among ATI, shipping lines, the BOC and the PPA,” the ATI also said.

Furthermore, ATI said deliveries from port to factories are made more convenient as BCT is directly linked to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR tollway) and the South Luzon expressway.

BCT is regularly serviced by MCC Transport, which directly connects Batangas to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

Taking full advantage of the integrated services at BCT brings greater value, significant cost-savings and conveniences for Calabarzon customers, which ultimately benefit consumers, ATI pointed out.

BCT has an annual throughput capacity of 300,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is ideal for storage of fast and slower-moving boxes. The 12-hectare facility is supported by two quay-side cranes, four rubber-tired gantries, trucks and loaders, with provision for 480-TEUs of reefer cargoes.