Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Grand Opening of the United Parcel Service (UPS) Clark International Air Hub

Thank you very much to our DTI Secretary, Secretary Maria Cristina Roque.

The Transportation Secretary, who also joins us today, Secretary Giovanni Lopez; UPS Executive Vice President and Chief International Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions Officer Wilfredo Ramos, UPS Asia Pacific President Bernard Jiang; the UPS Managing Director, Russell Reed, and other officials and employees of UPS; Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO, Joshua Bingcang, and other BCDA officials; Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Agnes Devanadera; our partners from the private sectors who will actually be the beneficiary of this new facility; my fellow workers in government; ladies and gentlemen.

A good day — it is a very good day for us all. [applause]

I am extremely pleased to join you today for the grand opening of the United Parcel Service (UPS) Clark International Air Hub, an important milestone in strengthening our country’s logistics network.

We all know the importance of getting all the items that what we need, when we need it. The food on our tables, the medicines in our pharmacies, and the goods in our sari-sari stores depend on the efficient movement of goods across the country and around the world.

This is the role of logistics. It connects our communities, sustains our businesses, and brings opportunities closer to the people. And, especially, during calamities, the timely delivery of essential supplies becomes even more
critical.

For an archipelagic country such as the Philippines, efficient logistics is vital to economic development and the well-being of our people.

Yet, our logistics sector continues to face challenges, particularly the high cost of moving goods across our archipelago.

Our logistics costs account for up to 27 percent against sales, one of the highest in Southeast
Asia.

We have to deal with congested ports, inadequate road networks, and insufficient cold chain facilities contributing to delays,increase in cost, and ultimately this affects the prices paid by our consumers.

To address these challenges and better connect agricultural production areas to ports and businesses, the DPWH and DOTr are working to improve our roads, bridges, and transport systems.

Sec. Banoy, please take note.

But strengthening our logistics network also requires private-sector investment to expand capacity and to improve our connections to global markets.

This is where the new UPS Clark International Air Hub makes a significant contribution.

With an estimated investment of US$80 million, the facility reflects the confidence of our private-sector partners in the Philippines and our shared commitment to strengthening the country’s logistics infrastructure.

The new hub is expected to handle around 46,000 packages and cargo shipments daily—over nine times the estimated volume handled by the current UPS hub.

Its 17 electric ground service vehicles and equipment units, along with nine additional units scheduled for delivery next year, will support more efficient operations while advancing our advocacy for environmental sustainability.

The hub’s dedicated immigration and customs lanes will also help streamline cargo clearance.

For the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biologics sectors, the facility offers an especially important innovation: UPS Premier.

This specialized logistics service uses advanced sensor-based tracking, real-time visibility, and intervention capabilities to protect time- and temperature-sensitive shipments.

This strengthens our capacity to move critical medical supplies, vaccines, and other high-value cold-chain products across borders.

Of course, we deeply appreciate the UPS for recognizing the Philippines as a strategic investment destination, as demonstrated by its long-standing presence in our country.

This completion is an important development for Clark, bringing new opportunities for employment and business growth outside Metro Manila.

Skilled jobs are scarce sometimes to find outside Metro Manila. Big investments like this, however, often announced but slow to finish. But this is being changed.

When an investor promises a project, it is our job to ensure it opens on schedule. This one certainly did. [applause]

To ensure timely completion of projects, I have directed the BCDA and DTI to report every unfinished Clark investment with an opening date.

To complement these investments, the DTI has established the Supply Chain and Logistics Center (SCLC) to provide businesses with access to supplier and logistics service provider information and assistance for their supply chain needs.

Meanwhile, the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway aims to link major ports of Subic, Manila, and Batangas through an integrated freight network.

These efforts are important steps forward. But we must also recognize that progress must be measured by whether Filipino consumers gain better access to the products that they need.

That is the standard by which we must judge our work— and the responsibility that we must carry beyond this Administration.

So, to our partners and investors: I encourage you to continue working with us to strengthen domestic and international logistics connectivity.

Your investments in the Philippines help expand our productive capacity, create employment, and connect our enterprises to regional and global markets.

Be assured that we are committed to creating a more conducive business environment.

As we prepare for the effects of Super El Niño, our synergistic efforts become even more vital. By promoting the timely movement of food and other basic commodities, we can help prevent supply disruptions, ease pressure on prices, and ensure that necessities remain accessible to Filipino households.

So, together, let us build a Bagong Pilipinas where our local businesses thrive globally, our workers gain meaningful opportunities, and our citizens acquire the goods and services essential to a comfortable, dignified life.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

— END —