To the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, DITO Telecommunity, and concerned government agencies:

We call for immediate action to improve mobile signal, internet connectivity, and reliable access to digital payments at the Batangas Passenger Terminal.

As a frequent passenger passing through Batangas Port, I have personally experienced weak mobile signal and limited free Wi-Fi inside the passenger terminal. This becomes especially difficult when many passengers are waiting for their trips.

Most of us already pay for our own internet service through prepaid data, postpaid subscriptions, or regular mobile promos. Yet inside one of the country's major passenger gateways, there are areas where the mobile data we already pay for becomes weak or unreliable.

The free Wi-Fi helps, but its capacity is limited.

The problem becomes very real when we need to pay.

I have experienced difficulty using GCash, Maya, QR payments, and online banking while purchasing food and other items from stores and restaurants inside the terminal because of weak connectivity. A transaction that should take seconds can require several attempts. Passengers sometimes have to wait, look for a stronger signal, or find cash.

The merchants are affected as well. Stores and restaurants increasingly accept digital payments, but reliable connectivity is essential for these transactions to work.

For travelers, connectivity has become part of the journey. Our booking confirmations and electronic tickets are on our phones. We check weather conditions, vessel schedules and travel advisories online. We use our phones to coordinate with people meeting us at our destination, access banking services, arrange onward transportation, and communicate with our families.

This is especially important at Batangas Port, a major gateway to Mindoro, Romblon, Panay, Palawan and other island destinations. Many passengers entering the terminal still have hours of sea travel ahead of them.

Reliable communication also matters during delays, cancellations, severe weather and emergencies.

The need for better connectivity has become more pressing as the passenger terminal fee has increased. From ₱30, the fee increased to ₱60 on January 1, 2026 and to ₱90 beginning July 1, 2026. Passengers understand that maintaining and operating a modern terminal costs money. We also reasonably expect basic passenger services to keep pace with improvements in the physical facility.

We have done this before
In 2024, we raised passenger concerns through the MIMAROPA Regional Development Council Executive Committee Technical Working Group on Seamless Intermodal Access of Passengers and Ships in Batangas Port.

We brought the actual experiences of passengers into the discussion, particularly concerns affecting senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, families with children, and passengers carrying luggage. Through dialogue, site inspection and coordination among concerned agencies, improvements were eventually made in passenger access and drop-off arrangements.

That experience showed us that practical problems at Batangas Port can be addressed when passengers, government agencies and service providers work together.

We are asking for the same responsiveness now.

What we are asking for
We respectfully call on the Philippine Ports Authority and Asian Terminals Inc. to convene Globe, Smart, DITO and other concerned stakeholders and undertake a comprehensive assessment of mobile and internet connectivity throughout the Batangas Passenger Terminal.

We specifically ask for:

A comprehensive mobile signal, internet capacity and radio-frequency (RF) survey covering waiting areas, boarding areas, ticketing areas, stores, restaurants and other passenger spaces;
Improvement of Globe, Smart and DITO indoor coverage and network capacity, particularly during peak passenger periods;
Upgrading of the terminal's free public Wi-Fi to handle the actual number of passengers using the facility;
Reliable connectivity for stores and restaurants, particularly for GCash, Maya, QR and other digital payment transactions;
Identification and correction of mobile and Wi-Fi dead spots throughout the passenger terminal;
Proper separation and security of passenger, merchant and port operational networks; and
Regular public testing of connectivity so improvements can be measured based on actual passenger experience.
If there are concerns that stronger wireless signals could interfere with communications or operational systems of the port, these should be addressed through proper engineering.

Technologies such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), neutral-host DAS, small cells and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi are already available for large and high-density facilities. An RF survey can determine appropriate frequencies, antenna locations, transmission power and other safeguards while protecting critical port communications and security systems.

We are not asking for luxury internet.

We want to be able to open our tickets and bookings, receive travel information, use the mobile data subscriptions we already pay for, pay for food using our e-wallets, contact people waiting for us, and communicate with our families before crossing the sea.

Batangas Passenger Terminal has undergone major improvements. We appreciate those improvements, just as we appreciated the response to the passenger concerns we raised in 2024.

Connectivity should be part of the next improvement.

We call on PPA, ATI, Globe, Smart and DITO to work together and give passengers at Batangas Port the reliable connectivity that a modern passenger terminal deserves.

Modern terminal. Reliable signal. Connected passengers.