Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI)’s P200-million passenger terminal building

The new state-of-the -art passenger terminal that will be opened this end-April, will surely boost business development in Tondo to new heights.

Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI)'s P200- million passenger terminal building (PTB) with 1,960 passenger capacity is now more than 80 percent complete.

"In conjunction with the Philippine Ports Authority and 2Go Inc, we're providing this area in Tondo with a facility that is modern and has a touch of class. We're providing a passenger terminal on a grand level," MNHPI chief executive officer Richard Barclay said.

The development in the area is seen to bring stabilization of employment, opportunities for people to improve their business as well as improve their productivity.

"With these investments, there is now an opportunity for vessels to plan with their customers and other shippers. For passengers, they will feel more secure," he said

North Harbor will have a soft opening in mid-March, in time for the Holy week and will be fully operational by end-April.

"It (passenger terminal) would be the number one terminal, in terms of facilities and development in the Philippines, air or sea," he added.

From 2005 to 2010, passenger traffic went down by about 50 percent. Since the consolidation of 2G0 Inc and MNHPI started operating the port, a slight growth in passenger count has been recorded.

The arrival area is spacious and air-conditioned. The comfort rooms will be well maintained. Baggage will be x-rayed to ensure security and safety of passengers. There is a clinic, dining and concessions along the area, where greeters and well-wishers can seat back and enjoy and probably, to say goodbye or welcome people nicely.

He noted that with this new facility, "saying goodbye to a loved-one can be done and that makes passengers to feel a lot better now."