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Located along the Batangas coast, the port features an 82-meter-long jetty with a 14-meter draft, capable of handling vessels of up to 10,000 deadweight tons. Its pier has a load-bearing capacity of three tons per square meter. Supporting infrastructure includes a 10-meter by 30-meter trestle and commercial services such as arrastre and stevedoring, vessel bunkering, and vessel rewatering.
Port developers emphasized the facility’s role in streamlining supply chains by reducing logistics costs for raw materials and finished goods. The improved efficiency is expected to lower production costs for manufacturers operating in and around Batangas, potentially enhancing the competitiveness of locally made products.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, who graced the inauguration, welcomes Chronicles Ports as an opportunity for the agency to provide better services and better opportunities for all Filipinos and the rest of the world.
“This port is more than just a physical infrastructure,” he said. “This is a gateway that will connect our country to global commerce and strengthen the fabric of the trade and logistics community.”
“We are certain that this P800-million investment which covers a comprehensive range of services from port services, arrastre and stevedoring, warehousing and trucking, among others, will steadily support the growing demands of trade, reduce inefficiencies and create new opportunities for cooperation between government and industry,” Rubio added.
The project is also seen as a driver of employment in the province. Chronicles Port is prioritizing the hiring of local residents for various roles in port operations and maintenance. Officials said this will raise household purchasing power and stimulate demand for local goods and services.
Port management also cited the expected increase in foot traffic around the area as a secondary boost to local businesses, particularly small enterprises reliant on consumer traffic. They anticipate ripple effects on retail, food services, and transportation.
Chronicles Port is also being positioned as a supplementary gateway for import and export activities in the region, helping to decongest other major terminals while supporting Batangas City’s broader economic ambitions.
Company chair Caesar Wongchuking noted that the facility, whose construction was delayed by the pandemic, will help boost economic activity in the area.
“Our commitment to the city of Batangas remains strong,” he said in his speech. “We already have investments here in real estate and cold chain [facilities]. We are here to stay. We are here to provide livelihood and to promote economic activity in this region.”
Senior Reporter
