THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Batangas has dismissed a case filed by Asian Terminals, Inc-Batangas (ATI-B) involving RGB Gemini Services, Inc for the operation of passenger terminal building 2 (PTB 2) at Batangas port’s domestic terminal.
ATI-B earlier questioned RGB’s operation of PTB 2, claiming the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) allowed RGB to encroach on its franchise area. ATI-B operates passenger terminals 1 and 3. It also handles cargo for the Batangas Port’s international container terminal (Phase 2).
As a result, ATI-B filed a case before the RTC for a temporary restraining order against PPA before the Batangas RTC but this request was denied. The case was later elevated to the Court of Appeals (CA).
The RTC said it dismissed the petition since ATI-B had already entered into a compromise agreement with RGB on April 20, 2009 that included the withdrawal of ATI-B’s petition filed with the CA.
Batangas port officials contend RGB did not encroach on ATI’s franchise area, noting PTB 2 was not part of the ATI-B concession.
ATI-B operates a passenger terminal for high-speed ferries, batels and roll-on/roll-off ferries. The terminal can handle about 2 million passengers annually. It includes a 25,000-square meter marshalling area for ro-ro vehicles and a network of elevated walkways that leads to five passenger boarding bridges.
The ATI-B general cargo and passenger terminal phase 1 also provides bulk and break cargo handling.
