The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has approved a 9% increase in cargo-handling charges for foreign containerized cargoes at Batangas Container Terminal (BCT) effective November 27.
The increase is less than the 25% hike sought by BCT operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) in April 2016 and is the first increase since the operator took over Batangas Phase II, where BCT is located, in 2010. This is even if under its contract with PPA, ATI is allowed to request for a rate increase every two years starting 2012.
PPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 08-2017 dated October 26 and published October 28 states that the rate hike is pursuant to PPA Board Resolution No. 2654.
PPA held a public consultation on the petition in the second quarter of this year.
BCT has handled over 93,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) as of mid-year of 2017, keeping it on track to exceed its 2016 record volume of nearly 160,000 TEUs. The terminal has been handling higher volumes since 2014.
To support future growth, ATI has begun plans to expand BCT, starting by extending its crane rails and yard. This will be followed by the deployment of two more quay cranes and four additional rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes, to bring its quay crane and RTG fleet to four and eight, respectively. BCT’s first expansion phase will raise its annual capacity to over 450,000 TEUs from over 300,000 TEUs.- Roumina Pablo
