 On September 6, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines orders status quo on PPA expropriation in Batangas (of 1,298,340 square meters of land to be used for the development of Phase II of the Batangas City port).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..."

"It is hereby declared that whenever there is congestion in the Port of Manila, or in case of emergency situations affecting public interest such as, but not limited to, strikes or lock-outs and natural calamities, resulting in serious disruptions in port operations, designated ports in Batangas International Port and the Port of Subic, and specifically the Subic Bay Freeport shall be considered as extensions of the Port of Manila," the executive order states.