International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) dry port unit, Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal (LGICT), recently broke ground to start the expansion of new facilities which include extended and dedicated storage areas for loaded and empty containers, a runway for rubber tired gantries (RTG), container care facilities, weigh bridges at the gates and an upgraded access road, as it primes the Laguna dry port for the revival of intermodal freight transport in the Philippines.   The expansion works, which is Phase 1 development of LGICT, is estimated to cost PHP 587 million and is eyed for completion by yearend.  It will add 7.22 hectares of developed dry port facilities to the initial four-hectare container yard already operational.   On full development, LGICT will have an area of 21 hectares and will include facilities for reefer containers, truck holding areas, a fuel station, a rail workshop and container freight stations. For its equipment fleet, on order are RTGs, side lifters, prime mover trucks and additional reach stackers.   Opened last March, the LGICT is a joint venture of ICTSI, Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) and Nippon Container Terminals (NCT) Co. Ltd.  Photo shows the groundbreaking and time capsule lowering ceremonies signaling the start of Phase 1 civil works at the LGICT site in Calamba City, Laguna.  
From left:  Socorro Z. Niro, TDG Chief Finance Officer; Rashid Alexander H. Delgado, Transnational Diversified Corp. President; Atty. Lirene Mora-Suarez, ICTSI Corporate Legal Services Officer; Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Vice President and Head of the Asia Pacific region; Dan C. Florentino, TDG Chief Operating Officer; Carmela N. Rodriguez, LGICT General Manager; and Shuji Harada, NCT Philippines President. 
From left:  Socorro Z. Niro, TDG Chief Finance Officer; Rashid Alexander H. Delgado, Transnational Diversified Corp. President; Atty. Lirene Mora-Suarez, ICTSI Corporate Legal Services Officer; Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Vice President and Head of the Asia Pacific region; Dan C. Florentino, TDG Chief Operating Officer; Carmela N. Rodriguez, LGICT General Manager; and Shuji Harada, NCT Philippines President.