THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday awarded to Asian Terminals, Inc (ATI) the 25-year management, operations and development contract for Phase II (international container terminal) of Batangas Port.
The award effectively allows ATI to control the entire Batangas Port since the company also operates Phase I or the domestic terminal.
The Notice to Proceed will be issued to ATI in the next few weeks.
ATI earlier said taking over Phase II of the Batangas Port is a challenge considering the facility has no direct callers and traffic has been low since the terminal began commercial operations in 2005.
Just recently, the container terminal’s only direct caller, Mariana Express, dropped Batangas from its ports of call, citing low cargo volume. This effectively idled the port’s container operations.
This year, the port is forecasting a 5% growth in bulk and break-bulk cargo. Such growth is expected to be complemented by growth in car shipments.
For now, three car manufacturers-Toyota, Hyundai and General Motors-ship their completely built-up units at the port.
Each company ships an average of 2,000 units a month.
Fair Shipping, Wallem, NYK and Transmar act as agents for the car manufacturers.
In another development, ATI has filed a petition before the Central Board of Assessment Appeal to stop the auction of its Mariveles Grains Terminal for alleged tax delinquency.
ATI filed a motion claiming it paid the correct amount of the taxes. Last year, the port operator secured from a Batangas court a temporary restraining order against the auction.
