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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr joined the opening of UPS’s new International Air Hub at Clark International Airport on October 15
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He said private investment is essential to expand logistics capacity and global market links, noting high logistics costs as a major challenge
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He called the hub important for Clark and the wider Luzon Economic Corridor
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said private-sector investment is essential to the country’s logistics growth as he joined the grand opening of the UPS International Air Hub at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on October 15.
READ: UPS opens $80M Clark hub, its largest PH investment
Logistics as a lifeline for an archipelago
In his speech at the livestreamed ceremony, Marcos called the hub’s opening “an important milestone” for the country’s logistics network. He pointed to the difficulty of moving goods, especially food and medicine, across an archipelago.
“We all know the importance of getting all the items that we need when we need it,” he said, “This is the role of logistics. For an archipelagic country such as the Philippines, efficient logistics is vital to economic development and the well-being of our people,” he said.
READ: PH 2026 investment priority plan covers logistics, shipbuilding
High costs and the need for private investment
Marcos acknowledged high logistics costs as a major challenge for the sector. He said businesses spend an average of 27% of sales on logistics, “one of the highest in southeast Asia.”
His administration is improving infrastructure, transport and policy, he said, but private investment is needed to expand capacity and connect the country to global markets.
He thanked UPS for recognizing the Philippines as a strategic investment destination, citing its long presence in the country.
Marcos said the facility will bring jobs and business growth to Clark, outside the capital, and benefit the wider Luzon Economic Corridor.
According to UPS, the more than US$80 million hub spans 30,000 square meters, is 15 times larger than its previous Clark facility and can process up to 15,000 packages per hour. It supports 170 weekly flight segments to and from Clark and has created nearly 600 jobs.
READ: Clark airport operator allots 30 hectares for Cargo City
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