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The Philippine Ports Authority approved an increase in the passenger terminal fee at Batangas port from P30 to P90, to be implemented in two tranches
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The first tranche of P30 will take effect on January 1, 2026 while the second tranche of P30 will take effect not earlier than July 1, 2026
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The increase was lower than the P100 fee that Batangas port operator Asian Terminals Inc.-Batangas had proposed
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ATIB earlier said the proposed increase is “a cost recovery measure” meant to “sustain the high standards at the terminal”
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has approved an increase in the passenger terminal fee at Batangas port from P30 to P90, to be implemented in two tranches in 2026.
Based on PPA Board Resolution No. 3418, the first tranche of P30 will take effect on January 1 while the second tranche of P30 will take effect not earlier than July 1, according to PPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 017-2025.
The increase was lower than the P100 fee that Batangas port operator Asian Terminals Inc.-Batangas (ATIB) had proposed.
READ: ATI seeks P100 passenger terminal fee in Batangas port from P30
ATIB, during a public hearing on its proposal last July, said the proposed increase is “a cost recovery measure” meant to “sustain the high standards at the terminal.”
ATIB noted there has been no increase in passenger terminal fee at Batangas since 2010.
The terminal operator said its petition, which was submitted in October 2024, was found to be compliant to contractual commitments and the eligibility requirements under Section 11 of Philippine Ports Authority Administrative Order (AO) No. 11-2019, which provides the authority’s omnibus rules of procedure on private service provider-initiated applications for new tariff and adjustment of fees and charges in ports.
ATIB said the proposed fee was computed using the total cost to operate the terminal divided by the projected paying passenger volume.
Of the proposed P100 terminal fee (inclusive of value-added tax) ATIB said 38% will be for the maintenance and upkeep of facilities to ensure the standards and efficiency of the infrastructure and passenger service quality for a long time; 18% goes to labor costs; 14% goes to safety and security expenses to safeguard passengers and stakeholders’ and the rest to cover the cost of utilities and other administrative costs for daily operations.
Students, persons with disability (PWD), the elderly, and uniformed personnel and Medal of Valor recipients and their first-degree dependents remain exempt from the terminal fee.
READ: Batangas port higher passenger terminal fee petition on hold
The operator compared its proposed terminal fee to some facilities, such as the P104.5 fee in North Port, Manila North Harbor, and P150 for Boracay.
Moreover, ATIB said the “modernization of the Batangas passenger terminal was achieved without any cost to government under the public-private partnership framework.”
Inaugurated in April 2024, the $25-million modernization project expanded the passenger terminal building’s floor area to 15, 000 square meters (sqm) from the previous 4,500 sqm, allowing the facility to handle over 8,000 passengers at any one time or nearly 400% capacity growth from the previous 1,700 passengers.
READ: Port developments strengthen Batangas position as cargo hub — DOF chief
PPA’s Commercial Services Department will issue the revised schedule of cargo handling tariffs for the Port of Batangas (Phase I) incorporating the new passenger terminal fee within 30 days following the publication of MC 017-2025. – Roumina Pablo
