MPIC unit putting up modern logistics hub in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines — MetroPac Movers Inc. (MMI), the logistics arm of Metro Pacific Investment Corp., is building the country’s most modern logistics hub in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to take advantage of the less regulated, but fast growing logistics industry.

MPIC and MMI chief executive officer Jose Ma. K. Lim said the fully built-out cost for dry and cold warehouse is P2.25 billion.

“The Sta. Rosa logistics center will integrate with the operating systems of our key customers and drive supply chain efficiencies,” Lim said.

The facility, which will rise on a 52,000 square meter site along the Sta. Rosa-Rosa Tagaytay Road, will have a dry goods warehouse and a refrigerated warehouse that will offer 17,500 pallet positions.

“We will deliver real value to our customers, focusing on the critical metrics of this business – truck turn-around times, inventory accuracy, product security and service quality. We know the pain points of the logistics industry in the Philippines and these facilities and operating systems are being designed specifically to address these issues,” Lim said.

MMI is targeting to open the facility within the second quarter of 2021 with both warehouses to lead the industry in product security systems,  radio frequency inventory control systems, fire and safety systems, staff training and expertise, and will offer truly international standard facilities and services to the Philippine market.

Lim said the refrigerated warehouse would set a new benchmark for food safety, storage and handling systems, and would offer storage temperatures between +20 to -25 degrees Celsius.

The new logistics center is expected to create 550 new jobs in Laguna and is the first of a planned rollout of strategically located international standard logistics centers.

MMI plans to build more logistics centers.

“Over the next few years, we will locate our logistics centers on major transport arteries to reduce the overall supply chain costs of our customers and increase the efficiencies of moving products to factories, to warehouses, to retail outlets, and to end consumers,” he said.

The MVP Group made its foray into the logistics business in 2016.

Tom Over, director for industrial and logistics of real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Philippines,  said online retail is boosting demand for logistics warehousing.

JLL Philippines brokered the property lease agreement between MMI and Markeenlo Realty Inc., owner of the property.

“Strong underlying growth fundamentals and the emergence of online retail are increasing the demand for logistics warehousing throughout Southeast Asia. This facility will address both a regional and domestic requirement for high grade industrial assets, which can support sophisticated supply chain operations,” Over said.

Markeenlo Realty Inc. for its part, said having the facility on its site unlocks the value of the property as well and raises the bar in the Philippine logistics industry for the benefit of Filipino consumers.

“Their tenancy also allows us to diversify the risks in our realty portfolio as we pursue other developmental projects,” said Mark Belo, president of Markeenlo Realty Inc.