In an effort to arrest the gridlock in Metro Manila caused by mounting cargoes in the country’s capital, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier announced the designation of Batangas port  as Manila’s “extension.”

Batangas port operator Asians Terminal Inc. said it is presently at an 80 percent utilization rate considering a static capacity of over 7,000 TEUs (twenty-footer equivalent units) at any given time.