Calapan and Oriental Mindoro Oppose Batangas Port Terminal Fee Increase
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Local government units in Oriental Mindoro and Romblon are standing firm against the proposed terminal fee hike at Batangas City Port. The city council of Calapan, the municipal council of Odiongan in Romblon, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of Oriental Mindoro have all passed resolutions opposing the move.
Vice Governor and provincial board presiding officer Lawyer Antonio Perez, Jr shared on social media that Resolution No. 7789-2025 was adopted to strongly reject the request by Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI-Batangas) to raise the passenger terminal fee from the current P30 to P100. He emphasized that the Batangas Port is a vital gateway for residents of Mindoro, supporting travel, commerce, and access to essential services from mainland Luzon.
“The proposed increase in terminal fees would be a burden especially to daily wage earners, students and those belonging to the needy sector. The proposed fee amounts to a 233 percent increase,” Perez said, citing the Local Government Code which grants the Provincial Board authority on issues affecting the people.
Public Hearing and Legal Action Moves
On June 23, the Oriental Mindoro provincial government received a notice for a public hearing from ATI-Batangas regarding their application with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to raise the fees. The scheduled hearing on July 4 prompted Governor Humerlito Dolor to request authorization from the provincial board to file a civil case against ATI-Batangas.
ATI-Batangas operates the Batangas International Port located in Sta. Clara, Batangas City, a key transit point for commuters and goods.
Local Governments Voice Concerns Over Fee Hike
Both the City Council of Calapan and the Municipal Council of Odiongan have passed separate resolutions highlighting the negative impact of the proposed terminal fee increase. They warned that the hike could severely affect ordinary commuters and workers who depend on affordable and accessible transport. Additionally, the tourism sectors in both provinces might suffer from reduced visitor numbers.
ATI justified the proposed increase by stating they have invested P1.5 billion to upgrade the port facilities. The improvements now allow the port to accommodate up to 8,000 passengers, with infrastructure comparable to modern international airports in developed countries.
They explained that the fee adjustment is driven by rising operational costs and the need to maintain infrastructure standards, noting that the passenger terminal fees have remained unchanged since 2010.
Exemptions and Final Notes
According to ATI, certain groups are exempt from the passenger terminal fee. These include uniformed personnel, senior citizens, students, Medal of Valor awardees, and persons with disabilities.
Local leaders remain vigilant in protecting the welfare of their constituents, emphasizing the importance of balancing necessary infrastructure funding with affordability for everyday users.
For more news and updates on Batangas Port terminal fee increase, visit Filipinokami.com.
