THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the new passenger terminal building at the Port of Lucena is nearing completion and is expected to be finished by the third quarter.
In a statement on Thursday, Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the expanded and upgraded terminal can accommodate up to 1,000 passengers.
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said the ongoing terminal upgrades were pursued to accommodate rising passenger demand.
The new passenger terminal building will be equipped with automated ticketing counters and will be powered by renewable energy, Mr. Santiago said.
In the first quarter, the PPA said passenger traffic rose 1.97% to 19.69 million, even in the face of fewer ship calls during the period. The port regulator reported 124,875 cruise passengers, down 5.17% from a year earlier.
The PPA and DoTr are undertaking a series of terminal upgrades and expansions to increase passenger and cargo-handling capacity while enhancing cruise tourism infrastructure. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
