Listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is investing a minimum of P2.8 billion in 2015, followed by P3.1 billion and P2.1 billion in 2016 and 2017, respectively, as it continuously boosts the capacity and efficiency of its port facilities in support of the growing Philippine economy.
In a press statement, ATI said its capital expenditure program for 2015 is bannered by the deployment of six empty container handlers last February and five additional rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) by the middle of the year which will support faster and safer operations at Manila South Harbor. This will complement ATI’s growing yard footprint, in time for the completion of more container storage areas within the Manila South Harbor expanded port zone soon.
ATI said it is also shifting its automation programs into higher gear to support continuous upgrade of its terminal and resource management systems at Manila South Harbor and its Vehicle Booking System (VBS), online towards the latter part of the year.
ATI’s VBS will further improve the operating environment for truckers in the long-term. It will speed up port processes as this will align demand and capacity on a 24-hour basis without causing heavy traffic in Metro Manila.
Moreover, ATI will continue its equipment build-up at Batangas Port. As part of this, ATI is booking orders for additional quay cranes and RTGs for its modern Batangas Container Terminal (BCT).
In 2014, BCT handled more than 98,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of international containerized cargoes, up by over 750% compared with the previous year, and has since sustained its strong upward volume trend into the first quarter of 2015.
ATI’s capital investments will be sourced from internal funds.
