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FAST Logistics Group is pushing for the adoption of a forward stocking strategy that places inventory closer to customers
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It is intended to reduce stockouts and keep goods moving during typhoons and other supply chain disruptions
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FAST said the strategy will help companies deal with the realities of an archipelagic country such as the Philippines where supply chains depend on a mix of land, sea, and air connectivity
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This strategy is particularly critical during the typhoon season from June to November, which overlaps with higher retail demand ahead of the holiday period
FAST Logistics Group is pushing for the adoption of a forward stocking strategy that places inventory closer to customers to reduce stockouts and keep goods moving , especially during typhoons and other supply chain disruptions.
The logistics provider, in a corporate blog, said 2025 underscored the urgency for companies to set up disruption-ready distribution networks, with the Philippines experiencing an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year alongside changing weather patterns.
FAST noted back-to-back typhoons Tino and Uwan, which damaged infrastructure, restricted routes, and delayed shipments — particularly cargo moving from the capital Metro Manila to provincial markets.
FAST said based on its operational experience, a day of port closure can result in three days of industry-wide delivery delays, while eight consecutive days of port closure during successive storms led to delays stretching up to 24 days
“The question for business leaders is not whether disruption will happen, but how prepared the network is when it does,” said FAST chief executive officer for logistics Manuel Onrejas Jr.
FAST underscored that the forward stocking strategy is a resilience-focused and proactive approach that pre-positions inventory in strategic warehouse locations near key cities and demand centers before disruptions occur.
This allows faster replenishment when routes, ports, or infrastructure are constrained, the company noted.
READ: FAST Logistics bullish on 2026 PH supply chain growth
FAST said the readiness framework of the forward stocking strategy follows three steps:
- Pre-position inventory from factories or central warehouses to forward stock locations or sites
- Protect goods with disaster preparedness controls
- Rapid deploy inventory to stores using fixed delivery schedules (FDS)
Onrejas said the strategy is designed for the realities of an archipelagic country where supply chains depend on a delicate mix of land, sea, and air connectivity.
Based on FAST’s 2025 experience, Onrejas said consumer brands that had inventory already pre-positioned in typhoon-hit areas maintained stability, while those relying on long-haul replenishment from central hubs struggled to keep shelves stocked.
He also highlighted that essential goods — such as food and hygiene products — must remain accessible when movement is disrupted.
“When demand spikes in calamity-hit areas, the real constraint becomes inventory availability and replenishment speed,” Onrejas said. “Forward stocking gives businesses a way to respond immediately instead of waiting for the network to normalize.”
Beyond weather events, FAST pointed to infrastructure constraints that can also weaken reliability, citing the rehabilitation and retrofitting of the San Juanico Bridge, which connects Samar and Leyte. The project temporarily reduced mobility for larger vehicles as the bridge’s load capacity was upgraded from three tons to 15 tons, affecting roll-on/roll-off operations and freight between Eastern Visayas and Luzon.
READ: San Juanico Bridge reopens to two-way traffic with 15-ton load cap
Onrejas noted that lean inventory models—often celebrated in developed economies—can become “fragile” in an archipelagic country like the Philippines with complex inter-island networks.
Instead, he said businesses should shift to “smart inventory” by moving stocks closer to consumers ahead of disruption-heavy periods.
For FAST, the forward stocking strategy is particularly critical during typhoon season from June to November, which overlaps with higher retail demand ahead of the holiday period. Companies should therefore implement this solution in advance of the typhoon season to ensure supply continuity, the logistics service provider said.
FAST said it is the “best partner for forward stocking strategy with its nationwide presence — about 94% across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as over 160 warehouses and more than 3,100 fleet.”
FAST offers multi-modal transport options via land, air, and sea, with its network of partner truckers, shipping companies, and airlines.
FAST said it is preparing for a wider rollout of forward stocking strategy through site readiness checks and disaster audits, standardized service level agreements, trained operations and customer service teams, and reporting routines such as daily stock updates and weekly key performance indicator reviews.
