Batangas and Subic ports will serve as extensions of the Port of Manila in order to ease congestion, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III has ordered Through Executive Order (EO) No. 172 signed Sep 13, Mr. Aquino declared the two ports as extensions of Manila International Container Terminal and South Harbor, citing the need "to immediately and effectively address existing port congestion and avert further damaging effects to the country’s economy, and also to put in place a mechanism that will immediately address future similar situations..."