Maersk facility to boost PH logistics

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center — one of the largest in the country — that is seen to boost trade and bring the country’s logistics system closer to becoming “a powerful force.”

In a speech, the President said the opening of the P4.8-billion facility in Calamba, Laguna, supported the government’s vision of boosting import and export activities, particularly in Southern Luzon.

“As one of the largest logistics centers in the country, the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center is poised to bolster import and export activities in Southern Luzon, especially in Bicol and Calabarzon,” he said.

“This strategic location in Calamba aligns with our efforts to decongest Manila and to unlock the economic potential in the countryside,” he added.

The President said the Philippines’ logistics sector had significantly improved in terms of global competitiveness, and the new facility would provide a further boost.

He cited the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index where the country ranked 43rd out of 139 economies, a substantial improvement from 60th position in 2018.

“With the grand opening of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center, our logistics system will be a step closer to becoming a powerful force — bridging our islands, breathing life into our industries, our businesses, bringing together our people on a path toward sustained development,” Marcos said.

The project is also seen to benefit many Filipinos by creating employment for 1,000 people in surrounding communities. It is likewise expected to create 1,000 indirect jobs for vendors, service providers, truckers, and more.

Marcos said the journey of the Philippine logistics sector was marked by its ability to overcome challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and to seize opportunities.

“[T]he sector has rebounded, and in the second quarter of this year, the transport and storage sector posted a growth of 14.8 percent. It ranked second only to construction as the fastest-growing industry in the Philippines,” he said.

The President said the growth was sustained by more than 3.68 million Filipinos employed in the sector.

“The transport and storage sector is also projected to achieve a market size of over P1.16 trillion by 2027. This reflects the rapid and stable pace of its development,” he added.

Marcos also lauded Maersk Philippines and Solid Group Inc. for embracing environmentally sustainable practices that support the government’s initiatives to make the Philippines cleaner and greener.

“From utilizing solar power to reduce its grid consumption by 30 percent to deploying electric vehicles for last-mile services, it is committed to earning a Gold Certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” he noted.

Marcos also emphasized the need for a more resilient local supply chain amid challenges disrupting business operations and food supply. He underscored the importance of logistics centers in ensuring supply chain continuity, especially in the post-pandemic landscape.

“The lessons learned from the pandemic are that those supply chains have to be robust, and when such a tragedy such as the pandemic hits us, that we still have the capability to move people and goods around,” he said.

Maersk Philippines has been operating in the country since 1974 with 11 offices, including its corporate office in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City and a main distribution center in Cainta, Rizal.

It has 99 warehouses and three container vessels, each with a capacity of 1,100 container vans, and currently employees over 9,500 people.

Fitted with state-of-the-art technology to serve as a fulfillment center catering to the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region and nearby areas, the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center will support import and export activities due to its proximity to the Batangas port.