International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has officially launched the South Luzon Container Terminal as construction begins on what will become the Philippines’ second largest container terminal. The US$800 million development is located roughly 110 kilometers south of Manila within the Bauan International Port in Batangas. Once operational, the South Luzon Container Terminal is expected to strengthen trade facilitation across Southern Luzon while supporting broader logistics and supply chain capacity across the country. The terminal is also designed to complement Manila’s existing trade infrastructure while enabling greater cargo movement tied to industrial development. Officials say the facility will handle cargo linked to energy-related and industrial projects in the region, reinforcing the Philippines’ expanding manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
The launch ceremony for the South Luzon Container Terminal was attended by several senior government officials and industry representatives. The event was led by Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno. Jay Daniel R. Santiago, general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority, represented the agency during the event. Among international attendees was former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, led the company’s officers and staff present at the ceremony and acknowledged the support extended by both national and local officials and government agencies.
The South Luzon Container Terminal is situated within a naturally protected cove along Batangas Bay, a location expected to provide stable operating conditions as construction progresses toward the targeted completion in 2028. The terminal is being designed to accommodate ultra-large container vessels once fully developed. At completion, the facility will feature an 800-meter quay, 38 hectares of container yard, and a berth depth of 18 meters, supporting a projected terminal capacity exceeding two million TEUs annually. The first phase of construction will focus on marine works, including the development of a 425-meter quay designed for super post-Panamax operations. This phase is scheduled to run from May to September 2027, while delivery and installation of equipment are planned for August 2027. Once operational readiness is achieved, the South Luzon Container Terminal is expected to increase throughput within ICTSI’s Philippine network and contribute to long-term logistics planning.
The facility is envisioned as a smart technology terminal equipped with advanced cargo handling systems. Planned equipment includes eight remote-controlled ship-to-shore cranes, 20 rail-mounted gantries, and 32 diesel-hybrid carriers and handlers. Direct access to the South Luzon Container Terminal will be provided through the Bauan–San Pascual–Batangas–STAR route and major South Luzon tollways. Additional transport links are also being considered through the Cavite-to-Bauan corridor. The project forms part of the broader infrastructure development agenda under Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Build Better More infrastructure program.
