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Monday, September 8, 2008

BATANGAS "RURAL" PORT?

The Batangas International Port, locally known as the Batangas Pier, is the premier seaport of the CALABARZON region and is located in Batangas City along the shores of Batangas Bay in Batangas. (Whew! Lots of “Batangases” there.)

Unfortunately, despite the “International” in its name, Batangas International Port is still primarily a domestic port. It is a key Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) port going to Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, to Marble Island of Romblon Province and ultimately to Iloilo City, forming part of President Arroyo’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway. Among tourists and travelers, the seaport is more well known for being a gateway to Puerto Galera, especially Sabang Beach and White Beach. Entering the domestic terminal of the seaport, it’s impossible for you not to be bombarded by the people hawking their fastcraft services going to Puerto Galera.

HOW ABOUT THE SERVICES?

Last week my wife and I went to Mindoro for a vacation. The bus fare from Buendia to Batangas cost P171.50 each. We managed to arrived early. It took 1 1/2 hour bus ride, maybe because of the newly opened CALABARZON road.

The fare from Batangas to Calapan cost 250 each plus terminal fee of P10.00. We waited for almost an hour at the terminal. What we noticed that time was the ineffeciency of port authorities , lock of securities and one more thing, the terminal is not air-conditioned.It's like an oven. Whew! it's really hot.

This kind of services must be reported to the proper authority, especially to the media (IMBESTIGADOR of GMA-7 or XXX of Channel 2). We were very dissapointed, because its a busy port, thousands of travellers used that port, going to Mindoro, Aklan, Iloilo and of course Romblon. They must do something to properly accomodate those travellers.

Is it worthy to call this port as BATANGAS INTERNATIONAL PORT? or they rather change it to BATANGAS RURAL PORT.

2 comments:

Nicely said...

i think what you meant here was the "ineffeciency" of port authorities.

well, i myself experience the same hardship every summer when we go to the province. mainit, lack of seats to accomodate hundreds of passengers at ang magulong sistema.

admin said...

thanks nice..hehehe...