Metro Pacific eyes logistics leadership

MANILA, Philippines — Infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is bent on becoming the industry leader in logistics as it continues with its investment spree in bolstering operations and expanding its network.

MPIC’s logistics unit MetroPac Movers Inc. (MMI) said it recently started operations in its new three-hectare facility in Concepcion, Marikina — a facility which has the equipment to manage 19,000 pallet positions within its 1.8-hectare covered area.

MMI said construction work to store 2,000 additional pallet positions at two to eight degrees centigrade would be completed by May.

The new facility brings MMI’s warehouse capacity to 33 hectares and 160,000 pallet positions.

MMI also recently invested in 522 new trucks equipped with GPS and a control tower to manage booking, location tracking and service.

With its continuing investment binge, MMI said efforts over the next few years would be focused on expansion and development of distribution centers across the country.

Two properties of approximately 20 hectares each located in the north and south of Metro Manila have already been identified for potential acquisitions.

MMI president Marilyn Victorio-Aquino said the company’s existing platform, along with investments to be made in the future, puts the firm in a good position for a leadership role in the industry.

Meanwhile, MPIC, through its chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan, has expressed support for the resources required to finance the amount needed for MMI’s potential acquisitions and expansion to broaden its reach and reinforce service offering.

Of MPIC’s P100 billion capital spending budget this year, P6 billion has been allotted for its logistics business.

MPIC entered the logistics business in 2016 when it acquired the assets of Basic Logistics Corp., A1 Move Logistics Inc., Philflash Logistics Inc. and BasicLog Trading and Marketing Enterprises for P2.17 billion.

The conglomerate last year completed the deal to acquire the assets of Ace Logistics, a company engaged in various aspects of logistics such as warehousing, courier express and parcel delivery, e-commerce delivery, trucking, freight forwarding, customs brokerage and domestic shipping for P280 million.

MPIC’s interest in logistics is fueled by the strong demand in the industry and returns offered by the business.