Lucena port terminal upgrade seen to transform sea travel in Southern Tagalog

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez and Philippine Ports Authority officials inspect the interior of the ...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez and Philippine Ports Authority officials inspect the interior of the new passenger terminal building at the Port of Lucena ahead of its planned opening. (Department of Transportation - Philippines)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Passengers traveling through the Port of Lucena may soon experience a major change in sea travel as the city’s upgraded passenger terminal building nears completion. Designed to accommodate growing passenger traffic, the expanded facility is expected to ease congestion, shorten waiting times, and improve overall travel conditions for thousands of commuters and tourists bound for island towns and nearby provinces.

For decades, the Port of Lucena has served as one of the busiest maritime gateways in Quezon Province, linking mainland communities to island municipalities and neighboring coastal areas across Southern Tagalog. The steady rise in passenger volume, particularly during holidays and peak travel seasons, pushed the government to pursue a large-scale modernization of the port’s passenger facilities.



Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said the project forms part of the national government’s broader push to modernize transportation hubs and improve inter-island connectivity across the country. He added that better port infrastructure would improve passenger convenience while strengthening cargo movement, tourism, and economic activity in regional growth centers such as Lucena.

“Ang direktiba sa atin ng Pangulo ay gawing moderno at passenger-friendly ang ating mga pantalan kaya patuloy nating ina-upgrade ang mga pasilidad para sa mas maayos na serbisyo sa publiko,” ani Lopez.

The upgraded terminal will be capable of accommodating around 1,000 passengers at a time, allowing port operations to manage heavy traveler volume more efficiently during long weekends, holidays, and peak tourism months. The expanded layout is also expected to improve crowd management and streamline the movement of passengers entering and leaving the port complex.

The new terminal will also feature wider waiting areas, organized boarding sections, upgraded lighting systems, additional seating capacity, and automated ticketing counters aimed at improving passenger comfort and speeding up transactions. Port officials said the modernization project was designed to address recurring problems involving overcrowding and long queues inside the terminal.

“Oras na matapos itong PTB, hindi na magsisiksikan ang ating mga pasahero na bibiyahe sa kanilang probinsya. Mas komportable na sila at hindi na sila mahihirapan dahil mas madali na ang pag-book ng kanilang ticket,” ayon kay Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Jay Santiago.

Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala said he is also looking at the upgraded terminal as a major boost to tourism and economic activity in Lucena City and nearby provinces. Improved port operations are expected to support businesses dependent on maritime transport while increasing visitor traffic across the region.

“Malaking tulong ito sa ating lungsod dahil mas mapapadali ang biyahe ng mga pasahero at turista na dumadaan sa Lucena Port. Makakatulong din ito upang mas mapalakas pa ang turismo at kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan,” Alcala said.

Alcala said infrastructure improvements in major transport hubs could help attract more investments and strengthen Lucena’s role as a commercial center in Southern Tagalog. He added that improved connectivity would create more opportunities for local industries and surrounding communities.

“Kapag mas maayos ang ating pantalan, mas marami ring oportunidad ang maaaring dumating sa Lucena at sa buong lalawigan ng Quezon. Isa itong mahalagang hakbang para sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng ating lungsod,” he added.

The upgraded terminal was also equipped with solar panels as part of efforts to promote energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable operations in government ports. Lucena Port continues to play a crucial role in transporting passengers and goods across Southern Tagalog and nearby island communities.