New North Harbor terminal opens

MODERN SEAPORT TERMINAL Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Michael Romero, chair of the Manila North Harbour Port Inc., launch the country’s most modern passenger terminal complex at the Manila North Harbor in Tondo, Manila. The terminal can handle 2 million ship passengers annually. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Romero-led Manila North Harbor Port Inc. on Wednesday opened its newest passenger terminal in Tondo, Manila, which formed part of its P14.5-billion commitment to develop one of the country’s oldest and busiest seaports.

The new P200-million facility, dubbed as the country’s most modern passenger seaport terminal, would have enough capacity to serve two million to three million passengers per year. This was enough to meet the current passenger volumes at 1.5 million, Manila North Harbor Port chair Michael Romero told reporters.

“The next stage is to complete our container yard,” Romero said, noting that another P5 billion was being “contracted” for further expansion.

“That’s P9 billion in ongoing investments out of the P14.5-billion commitment for 25 years,” he said.

Manila North Harbor Port, which is 65-percent owned by Romero’s Harbor Center Port Terminal Inc. (HCPT) and 35 percent by Petron Corp., won the 25-year contract to operate and expand Manila North Harbor in 2010. HCPT is a unit of listed Global Port 900 Inc. while Petron is owned by conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

Because of its new passenger terminal, Romero said the facility could accommodate larger vessels. He said the company was expecting the arrival of a ship of Genting Hong Kong’s Star Cruises on Nov. 2.

Romero said the terminal fee would be set at between P35 and P45.

The new terminal is located in an 11,400-square-meter area at Pier 4 of Manila North Harbor. This includes the main passenger building, ticketing area and a 2,000-sqm parking lot.

The passenger lounge was designed to accommodate 1,875 seats, Romero said.

The terminal also includes a VIP lounge with dining facilities.