Manila: The government is offering incentives to get people to switch ports from Manila to Batangas, some 70 km south of the capital in a further bid to ease congestion in Manila.

The President already signed an executive order granting 90% discounts to berthing charges to all shipping lines docking in Batangas,” Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan Sta. Ana said in a statement Sunday.

The PPA said that the discounts took effect at the start of the month. Ships docking in Batangas now pay a port fee of just $0.008 per gross revenue ton (GRT) per day from the previous $0.081 per GRT a day. Dockage-at-berth fees have also been slashed by 90% to just $0.004 per GRT a day from the standard daily rate of $0.039 per GRT.

The discounted rates will be in place for six months after which they will be further reduced by 50%. This would mean port dues of $0.04 per GRT a day and dockage-at-berth daily fees of just $0.02 per GRT.

“This is a big boost in our bid to increase utilization of the Batangas Port. It will offer incentives for foreign vessels at the Batangas Container Terminal for a total period of one year,” Sta. Ana said.

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