Listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc (ATI) has secured the right to expand its operations at the Port of Batangas, BusinessWorld reported.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said a Notice of Award of Contract to manage, operate, develop and promote the A-1 container terminal had been received yesterday from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The PPA last year offered a 25-year concession for phase two of the Batangas port. Phase one of the facility is already being run by ATI, which prior to the bidding was given a temporary deal to operate the container terminal. ATI and International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) were the only ones which bought bid documents. The PPA later declared ATI the sole bidder after ICTSI backed out.

This is the second time that a port contract has gone to a single bidder following last year's award of the Manila North Harbor concession to a joint venture of Metro Pacific Investments Corp and Harbour Centre Port Terminals.

ATI has said it would be aggressively marketing the port as an alternative to Manila's harbours.