The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is preparing for a surge in cruise ship arrivals by building new terminals dedicated specifically to cruise passengers.
Jay Santiago, PPA general manager said a cruise dedicated passenger terminal in Siargao Port is scheduled to be opened by the third quarter of the year and the Coron cruise terminal in Palawan by next year.
He added that the government is also building cruise terminal in Curimao Ilocos Norte, Salomague ports in Ilocos Sur, in Busuanga and Aklan.
This initiative aims to handle the expected arrival of 300,000 cruise tourists in 2024, a significant increase of 275 percent compared to the 80,000 visitors in 2023.
“For the first three months of 2024, we have achieved 44,000 already,” Santiago said.
In 2023, over 80,000 cruise ship passengers from various shipping companies such as Norweigan Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Silverseas, Windstar Cruises, and AIDA visited the Philippines, recognized as the ‘Best Cruise Destination in Asia’ by the World Cruise Award.
Last Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the new and improved Batangas Port Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), solidifying its position as the Philippines’ biggest and most advanced interisland maritime hub.
The expanded PTB has an 8,000-passenger capacity from the previous 2,500 and has fully airconditioned lounges, facilities for the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs), baggage x-ray machines, walkthrough metal detectors, food concession stands and extensive CCTV coverage.
With the new and improved Passenger Terminal Building in Batangas Port, this is now the largest and most modern PTB in the ports managed by PPA under its terminal operator, Asian Terminal Incorporated (ATI).
Connecting mainland Luzon to Region IV-B or MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) to Visayas (Iloilo, Negros and Cebu) and Mindanao via fast crafts, ferries and roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships, the Batangas Port plays a significant role in stimulating the nation’s economy as a portal to agricultural areas, a gateway to island tourism destinations, and a hub for goods and other products.
Planning for the Batangas PTB modernization started in 2020. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, construction began in 2021 and Phase 1 was completed in 2022. Phase 2 was finished in the first quarter of 2024.