Luzon container terminal seen to drive Calabarzon growth

The Luzon International Container Terminal (LICT) in Bauan, Batangas is expected to be operational by early 2028, with government officials projecting that the new port will stimulate economic activity and job creation in Calabarzon.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Monday that the facility aligns with the Marcos administration’s directive to strengthen regional supply chains and facilitate trade outside Metro Manila.

“By 2028, it will be the second biggest container terminal in the country,” Dizon said. “This is very important, especially for the Calabarzon area, because it is the industrial capital of the Philippines.”

Once completed, the terminal will be capable of handling up to 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year, including large container vessels.

Officials said the development could attract factory investments and potentially serve as the anchor for a new industrial zone in the region.

To mitigate traffic concerns in the municipality of Bauan, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said a direct access road will link the terminal to the Star Tollway, allowing cargo trucks to bypass local roads.

“We will have an access from the terminal straight to Star Tollway,” Dizon said. “It will be a wide road where trucks can easily fit and won’t cause inconvenience to Bauan residents.”

The terminal is being developed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a port management company based in Manila.

Dizon, along with officials from the DOTr and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), visited the site on Friday to monitor progress and express full support for the project.

The LICT is part of a broader push to decongest the Manila port and enhance port infrastructure across key economic corridors. Officials said the project is targeted for completion by the end of 2027.

Calabarzon comprises the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.