President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday cited the national significance of the new and improved passenger terminal building (PTB) at the Port of Batangas in supporting the country’s economic transformation.

In his speech during the inauguration of the terminal hub, Marcos said the PTB validates the importance of the Batangas Port’s multiple strategic roles in stimulating the economy.

“It is a gateway to the nation’s dynamic capital region, a portal to agricultural powerhouses, an access point to island tourism paradises, and a receiver of goods that fill and fuel the vibrancy of our economy,” Marcos said.

“True enough, maximizing the Port of Batangas helps in decongesting our Manila ports, causing the dispersal of economic activities to places more than capable of housing entrepreneurial and industrial boom,” he added.

Marcos said the upgraded terminal building can now accommodate 8,000 passengers, up from its previous capacity of 2,500.

This increases the Batangas Port’s annual passenger capacity from 4 million to 12.8 million, he noted.

“Today’s activity not only is a reaffirmation of the importance of this Port of Batangas, but as a vote of confidence in the promising and positive future of the entire Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol regions,” he said.

He also highlighted that the passenger terminal building features customer care facilities, prayer rooms, all-gender restrooms, amenities that are friendly to persons with disabilities, and a multilevel car storage facility that can accommodate 13,000 vehicles.

“Today we launch a project that will not only open a state-of-the-art facility but will also open great opportunities for the progress of every Filipino,” he said.

According to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the PTB of the Batangas Port connects mainland Luzon to Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, at Palawan), to Iloilo, Negros, Cebu, and Mindanao via fast crafts, ferries, and roll-on/ships.

The PTB is managed by the PPA’s terminal operator Asian Terminal Incorporated.

Other facilities at the Batangas PTB are fully air-conditioned lounges, baggage X-ray machines, walkthrough metal detectors and extensive CCTV coverage. (PNA)