Marcos: New Maersk facility to boost PH logistics system

Manila Bulletin

President Marcos said that the newly opened Maersk Optimus Distribution Center will bring the country's logistics system a step closer to becoming a "powerful force" that will bridge the country's islands, breathe life into different industries, and bring people together toward development.  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/30/maersk-center-boost-ph-logistics  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00For many in our country, the idea of logistics seems like an abstract concept.

00:07When we order goods online, we often overlook that this intricate system

00:12that moves goods across our islands from farms to markets, warehouses to homes,

00:17yet quietly keeps the rhythm of our daily lives ensuring food on our tables,

00:23medicine for the sick, and packages at our doorstep.

00:28Without logistics, the seamless flow of our lives and conveniences

00:33we have grown accustomed to would simply break.

00:36But beyond keeping the flow of commerce seamless, logistics also fuels our economy

00:42and creates jobs for our people.

00:45We hear at this point, especially after the pandemic,

00:50a lot of talk about supply chains and robust supply chains.

00:56And this arise from the lessons that we have learned during the pandemic

00:59where supply chains were broken and many of them no longer came back.

01:06And therefore, the lessons learned from the pandemic

01:09are that those supply chains have to be robust.

01:13And when such a tragedy such as the pandemic hits us,

01:19that we still have the capability to move people and goods around.

01:23Facilities such as this are the nodes of that supply chain.

01:29Everything that we receive in our homes,

01:33all the deliveries that we receive in our businesses

01:36have to go through a facility like this

01:41so that they organize, as you can see,

01:44the goods that need to be moved on to their final destination.

01:50That is why today's inauguration is so important.

01:55The journey of the Philippine logistics sector

01:58has been marked by our ability to overcome challenges and to seize new opportunities.

02:04Following its growth in 2018 and 2019,

02:08the transportation and storage industry has withstood unprecedented disruptions

02:14as I spoke about the pandemic.

02:17But despite this, the sector has rebounded.

02:20And in the second quarter of this year,

02:22the transport and storage sector posted a growth of 14.8%.

02:27It ranked second only to construction

02:32as the fastest growing industry in the Philippines.

02:36This growth is sustained by more than 3.68 million Filipinos

02:41who are employed in this sector in the first half of 2024.

02:47The transport and storage sector is also projected to achieve a market size

02:52of over 1.16 trillion pesos by 2027.

02:58This reflects the rapid and stable pace of its development.

03:02Globally, the Philippines logistics sector has shown marked improvement in competitiveness.

03:08In the World Bank's 2023 Logistics Performance Index,

03:13we climbed to the 43rd spot out of 139 economies.

03:18A great improvement from our previous place at 60th in 2018.

03:25Our gains in customs efficiency, infrastructure quality,

03:29on-time deliveries make this rank improvement possible.

03:34With the grand opening of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center,

03:39our logistics system will be a step closer to become a powerful force,

03:44bridging our islands, breathing life into our industries, our businesses,

03:48bringing together our people on a path towards sustained development.

03:53The Maersk Optimus Distribution Center

03:56attests to the shared vision of Maersk Philippines and Solid Group Incorporated,

04:01a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable growth.

04:06As one of the largest logistics centers in the country,

04:09the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center is poised to bolster import and export activities

04:16in Southern Luzon, especially in Bicol and Calabarzon.

04:21This strategic location in Calamba aligns with our efforts to decongest Manila

04:26and to unlock the economic potential in the countryside.

04:30With this project, it is our citizens who stand to benefit the most.

04:35For many Filipinos, it opens many new doors.

04:38In the coming years, the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center

04:43is expected to create employment for 1,000 people in its surrounding communities

04:49and indirect employment for another 1,000 individuals,

04:54from vendors and service providers to truckers and beyond.

04:58And I think Secretary Chris Rock will agree with me.

05:02Those are very conservative numbers

05:08because generally speaking, when a large plant such as this is put up in a community,

05:15the downstream employment that comes,

05:19both the full employment and partial employment,

05:22is usually three times the direct employment in the facility.

05:29So it is a great boon to the local community.

05:33And this company will be doing it in a sustainable manner, as we have heard.

05:37In line with its social responsibility,

05:40this center has embraced environmentally sustainable practices.

05:47From utilizing solar power to reduce its grid consumption by 30 percent

05:52to deploying electric vehicles for the last mile services,

05:56it is committed to earning a gold certification

06:00under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

06:04Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of this administration's agenda,

06:09and it is heartening to see the private sector partners echoing this commitment.

06:15It is more critical as we face natural calamities such as the typhoons and storms

06:20that have intensified because of climate change.

06:23Your values as a company align with this administration's priorities

06:28to transition to cleaner and more renewable sources of energy.

06:32It is imperative for both the public and private sectors

06:35to adopt effective, responsive, and ecologically sound practices.

06:40As such, it is our fervent hope that your investment will continue to grow,

06:45and we hope, like other like-minded businesses,

06:48they will take stock of the country's logistics sector as we continue to pursue measures

06:53to reduce costs and make industry more competitive.

06:57To Maersk Philippines and Solid Group Incorporated,

07:00thank you for spearheading this initiative.

07:03I urge you to build more agile and flexible end-to-end supply chains,

07:08fortifying the groundwork of a more competitive industry for all.

07:12Let this day reaffirm our commitment to constructing a Bagong Pilipinas

07:18where we work hand-in-hand to ensure that prosperity flows into every corner of our archipelago.

07:26Mabuhay kayong lahat.

07:27Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.

07:29At magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

07:38For more UN videos visit www.un.org

Category

Transcript

Recommended