First Snow - Winter 2017

A View of Verde Island from afar

A view of Verde Island while aboard Fastcat M1. This is your "better ro-ro" option in terms of cost, speed, services and facilities. +1 for providing elevator for differently-abled persons.

Sennheiser HD598

This is my Sennheiser HD598 with custom replacement audio cable. The original cable was too long and has 6.3mm plug. I mainly use as my daily driver, so mobility is important. My source is my HTC One (M7) with FiiO E18 amplifier with 3.5mm socket.

In Hibernation

This blog is currently on hibernation. I have no chance to update you with anything about traveling via Batangas Port. I am currently out of the country.

Port of Batangas Location

This blog refers to the Port of Batangas, located at Brgy. Sta. Clara, Batangas City. See map below:



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A Welcome Update on Calapan Port

It really is a very much welcome upgrade on Passenger Terminal at the Port of Calapan City. Albeit the passenger terminal is not as large as the one in Batangas City, it is very comfortable, has a working X-Ray machine, a working free public wifi, surveillance cameras, good PA system classy comfort rooms, and LCD Televisions. All for a small terminal fee of Php20.00. NPMS&I really did a good job.

This is very far better, compared to the state of the Batangas City passenger terminals. You have to pay Php 30 pesos, for a very humid, most-of-the-time-hot passenger area, not well-maintained comfort rooms, mumbled sound of PA system, broken x-ray machine, and other things that makes my weekly travel very uncomfortable. Yes, they got some LCD TV, but what else?

I wonder where the funds go...

Supercat Updates

Got a nice surprise this morning when I came to the Supercat ticketing office in Calapan Port to buy a ticket to Batangas City and found out that the ticket they are now selling are being printed while you wait. For a long time, passengers get used to having a pre-printed tickets. What's nice is, you don't have to write your name on the passenger manifest. Just provide a valid ID and the teller will input the necessary information to their computer terminal and voila, you'll get your printed ticket and you are included in the passenger list.

I remember when Supercat was just starting its operation in Calapan City (way back when the fare on Calapan-Batangas route is just Php 45.00), they were already using the same system (different ticket format, though).

Well, I got a non-aircon seat (it's at the second floor of the vessel) at Php 200.00. Had a chance to appreaciate the islands (the three small islands in Calapan Bay and the Verde Island in Batangas), and some playful dolphins!

Aircon accomodation is Php 280.00 (one way). I just wonder why the fare is the same for the vessel which can take the Calapan - Batangas route in one hour and the other vessel that takes one and a half hour to get there? Shouldn't there be a price difference?

Anyway, the boat trip was smooth. No undue delays. Looks like the crew had a good night sleep.

After the boat trip, I got aboard one of the Buses bound to LRT Buendia, fare is Php 166.50. Traffic is moving ok so the trip went fine.

New Terminal Fee Rate @ Terminal II

I went back to my hometown in Calapan last Friday (November 28)  after a long week of work here at Makati and to my surprise, the terminal fee is now Php30.00! It used to be Php10.00 for regular passengers and Php5.00 for students/seniors/disabled passengers. 

Now the students, senior citizens and disabled passengers would shell out Php15.00 just to walk through the terminal (Terminal II of Batangas Port) which by the way is not air conditioned and will only add additional burden to passengers because you will have to climb a stairs to the terminal at the second floor, then exit on the other side and walk all the way to the ro-ro vessel. As for the regular passengers, have Php30.00 ready.

And oh, by the way, there are no personnel that you can ask for instruction on which exit you have to take.

My travel last Friday was very uncomfortable. :-(

Schedule of Trips from Batangas - Romblon

Trips to Magdiwang, Sibuyan, Ambulong, San Agustin and Romblon leaves Batangas Port every 4:00 PM on Thursdays and Saturdays.

For more information, please call ATI Batangas at Terminal II, Port of Batangas at telephone number 043-723-4293.

Montenegro Fastcraft Schedule

Here's the Daily Departure trips of Montenegro Fastcraft servicing Calapan Port - Batangas Port route:

 

Departure from Calapan City:

1. 7:00 AM
2. 9:00 AM
3. 11:00 AM
4. 1:00 PM
5. 3:00 PM
6. 5:00 PM

Departure from Batangas City

1. 7:00 AM
2. 9:00 AM
3. 11:00 AM
4. 1:00 PM
5. 3:00 PM
6. 5:00 PM

For booking, inquiries and reservations, you may contact ticketing offices at:

 

Batangas Sattelite Office

Landline: +63 (43) 723-8294

Cell Number: +63 (922) 889-1022

 

of

 

Calapan Sattelite Office

Landline: +63 (43) 288-4346

Cell Number: +63 (922) 889-7044

 

Other info can be found at the shipping line's website: http://www.montenegro.com.ph

 

Updated Supercat Schedule

There is actually an update on Supercat Schedule of trips. I was in a hurry and just added a comment on one of the entries. Here's the link. Supercat now has two boats servicing Calapan - Batangas route: Supercat 23 and Supercat 20. Regular fare is Php 255.00, Php205.00 for students. They also give discounts for minors (4-11 y/o) and Senior Citizens. They also still have Tipid Trip Promo on selected trips which offers Php180.00 flat rate fare per person. You may call any of the following numbers for more details on the promo:

• Batangas Port Ticketing Office : +63 (43) 723-0179
• Calapan Port Ticketing Office : +63 (43) 288-3179

Other Fastcraft Servicing Batangas-Calapan Route

Montenegro Shipping Lines has now a fastcraft servicing Batangas-Calapan (v.v.) route. Currently they have an all-day promo of Php180/person fare. It is smaller than the other fastcraft, The Supercat, and it travels  approximately one (1) hour.

 

Being a busy port, considering that this route is now included in Philippine Nautical Highway, having an alternative like this is a big help for the passengers like me, who regularly uses this route. 

ATM Machine at Batangas Port

I would like to include in this blog that Batangas Port Terminal II has a BPI ATM Machine serving clients of Expressnet, which is the primary network of the following banks:

• Landbank of the Philippines
• BPI Family Savings Bank
• BPI Direct Savings Bank
• Banco de Oro (tied up with Megalink)
  
• HSBC
• HSBC Savings Bank

ATM Machine also caters for Cirrus and Maestro for MasterCard, , Diners Club credit, debit and prepaid cards.

Please be advised that ATM charges fees on withdrawal and balance inquiries from non-members of the bank. Please check with your own bank for current ATM usage fees.

Supercat Trips Schedule as of December 22, 2007

Departures from Calapan Port

1. 5:00 AM - First Trip from Calapan
2. 6:30 AM
3. 8:00 AM
4. 9:30 AM
5. 11:00 AM
6. 12:30 PM
7. 2:00 PM
8. 3:30 PM
9. 5:00 PM - Last Trip from Calapan

Departures from Batangas Port

1. 6:30 AM
2. 8:00 AM
3. 9:30 AM
4. 11:00 AM
5. 12:30 PM
6. 2:00 PM
7. 3:30 PM
8. 5:00 PM
9. 6:30 PM - Last Trip from Batangas

For more information, you may call Supercat Office at the following numbers: 043-723-8227 (Batangas Port) or 043-288-3179 (Calapan Port)

Supercat Tipid Trips Promo

Supercat has an on-going promo dubbed as "Tipid Trips Promo".

Promo started last November 7, 2007 and will last until December 14, 2007. There will be a flat rate of Php180 pesos for all types of passengers (regular, students, senior citizens, minors, and disabled) for the first 30 passengers or within one hour after the previous trip has departed, whichever comes first. The promo is for selected trips only, on first-come, first-served basis and there is no advanced issuance of tickets.

For the non-Tagalog speaking readers: Tipid means "thrift", so it may go like Thrift Trip Promo. :-)

What to Expect at Batangas Port

Travellers coming to Batangas Port should expect the following:

• Vendors greeting travellers and offering to sell their goods. Sometimes, they offer to help in carrying your luggages, in exchange for you buying some of their goods. :-)
• Baggage inspection and Frisking. Batangas Port is equipped with an x-ray machine that scans your luggages. You will also pass along a metal detector, then the security officers will frisk you and also check your hand-carried bags (those that did not pass through the x-ray machine).
• Porters. The guys usually wearing green t-shirts with numbers at the back. These guys will help you carry your luggages for a fee. Fees are paid at their customer service desks which they issue receipt of payment, but usually, they ask you another fee after they carried your luggage (they do not issue receipt and it is not required to pay them the second time)
• Small restaurants, goodies stall outside passenger terminal. There's a lot of small restaurant outside the passenger terminal and also along with them are goodies stall.
• Electronic loading centers for Smart, Sun and Globe prepaid subscribers.
• Terminal Fee. Batangas port charges travellers a fee for its use. See this post for more details on terminal fees.
• The port has comfort rooms for travellers.
• Rent-a-Car Services. There are at least two groups offering rent-a-car services inside the Passenger Terminal (Yellow Van and MOA).
• Paging Services. There's a paging service (for free) inside the terminal provided by ATI Batangas. They usually announce departures of boats but they also accomodate paging of missing persons and lost and found items.

Notice: As with any place where there's a lot of people, always keep your valuables in safe place or carry it with you.

Note: This is an incomplete list. I am still gathering more information and will update this soon.

Supercat Schedule

As of August 5, 2007

Calapan to Batangas Departure Schedule

1. 5:00 AM - First trip from Calapan
   
2. 8:00 AM
   
3. 11:00 AM
   
4. 2:00 PM
   
5. 5:00 PM - Last Trip from Calapan
   

Batangas to Calapan Departure Schedule

1. 6:30 AM - First trip from Batangas
   
2. 9:30 AM
   
3. 12:30 PM
   
4. 3:30 PM
   
5. 6:30 PM - Last Trip from Batangas

Note: These are the published schedules and are subjet to changed with very short or no prior notice. For more information, you can contact Supercat Ticketing Offices using the numbers listed below:

• Batangas Port Ticketing Office : +63 (43) 723-0179
• Calapan Port Ticketing Office : +63 (43) 288-3179

For more information, you can always check the Supercat Website.

Fare Information
Full Fare		Php 245.00
Disabled Citizen/Senior Citizen	20% discount	Php 195.00
Student Privelege	15% discount	Php 205.00
Minor (4-11 year-old)	50% discount	Php 120.00

This does not include terminal fee @ Batangas Terminal which is Php 10.00 for regular passengers and Php 5.00 for students with valid Student IDs. Discounts are also provided for Senior Citizens and Disabled passengers.

Note: Terminal Fee is charged at Batangas Terminal only. At the moment, there is no terminal fee being charged at Calapan and Puerto Galera Ports.

What's This?

Hello! Thank you for your time in looking at my blog. I decided to create this blog because I have been using Batangas City Port weekly and most of the time, there's a lot of newcomers that do not have enough information regarding the use of the port's facilities, schedule of trips, other fees, services offered inside and outside of the terminal, and other relevant information.

I will try to provide them here as soon as I could.