From P30 to P100: Batangas port seeks to triple passenger terminal fees

Travelers on Monday rejected a proposal by Asian Terminals Inc.-Batangas to increase passenger terminal fees at Batangas port from P30 to P100.

Cedric Rayla, a frequent passenger at Batangas port, said the increase will be a financial burden to frequent travelers and minimum wage earners.

For his part, Dominador Bustamante, a spokesperson and AVP for strategic communications of Asian Terminals Inc., said the company has already spent P1.5 billion to modernize the Batangas port to make it a world class facility “comparable to modern airports and other similar facilities around the world.”

He said from the previous capacity of 2,000 passengers, the port can now accommodate 8,000 passengers “na nakaupo, mataas ang ceiling, para siyang mall, malamig with clean comfort rooms na may shower facilities.”

The port also has shuttle services and designated drop-off zones with covered walkways and standby porters.

Senior citizens, students, uniformed personnel, recipients of Medal of Valor and PWDs are exempt from the passenger terminal fee, he said.

The proposed increase is now undergoing public hearings before the Philippine Ports Authority.