PPA to review Batangas port terminal fee hike application

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to review the application of port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) to increase the passenger terminal fee at Batangas Port from P30 to P100.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the Batangas Port has a bigger and modern passenger terminal that offers amenities for the comfort of up to 8,000 passengers.

“We will thoroughly study the application for a terminal fee increase… We need to balance the increase with the capability of the passengers and make sure that this would not be a burden to our commuters at Batangas Port,” Santiago said.

He noted that the Batangas passenger terminal building was launched by President Marcos in April and is the most modern in the country.

According to an ABS-CBN report, some local officials, including Romblon Gov. Trina Firmalo-Fabic, said the fee increase would be shouldered by the riding public, some of whom are students, farmers and fisherfolk who use Batangas Port to get to and from the island provinces.

Doan Bustamante, ATI stakeholders affairs and communications manager, said their firm invested P1.5 billion to improve the infrastructure at Batangas Port at no cost to the government.

Bustamante noted that ATI has not imposed a passenger terminal fee in Batangas since 2010.

“Compared to other terminals, Manila North charges P104.50, Boracay Port P150 and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport domestic P200, which is set to increase to P390 by September,” Bustamante said.

He noted that the PPA review and evaluation process would include a public hearing and submission of comments and position paper by stakeholders.