International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has officially launched the South Luzon Container Terminal (SLCT) project at Bauan International Port in Batangas, Philippines.
The $800 million terminal, located about 110 km south of Manila, will become the second-largest container terminal in the country. It aims to strengthen trade capacity in Southern Luzon and support industrial, manufacturing, and energy-related cargo.
At full development, SLCT will include:
800-meter quay
38 hectares of container yard
18-meter berth depth
More than 2 million TEUs annual capacity
The terminal is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will be able to handle ultra-large container vessels.
Phase 1 includes marine works and a 425-meter quay designed for super post-Panamax vessels. Construction is planned from May to September 2027, with equipment installation starting in August 2027.
The terminal will feature advanced equipment, including:
8 remote-controlled ship-to-shore cranes
20 rail-mounted gantries
32 diesel-hybrid carriers and handlers.
The launch ceremony was attended by several officials, including Giovanni Z. Lopez, acting secretary of the Department of Transportation (Philippines), and Ariel F. Nepomuceno, commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (Philippines).
Former Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan, also attended the event.
According to Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, the project highlights the importance of strong collaboration between the private sector and government to deliver critical infrastructure.
The terminal supports Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s national infrastructure initiative, the Build Better More program.
