CIAC, PPPI to establish Clark pharmaceutical logistics hub

Clark Freeport — The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) are set to establish a pharmaceutical logistics and distribution center within the Clark Aviation Capital (CAC) inside this Freeport.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between CIAC and PPPI contains intent to strengthen the transformation of CAC into the country’s premier logistics hub.

CIAC president Jojit Alcazar said both CIAC and PPPI will further explore investment plans, joint ventures, or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) options, while ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical industry regulations and cold chain management standards.

“There’s a mutual appreciation of Clark’s distinctly viable location to build a pharmaceutical logistics hub with air cargo handling capabilities — the main reasons which moved us swiftly to formalize this understanding,” Alcazar said.

Alcazar and PPPI president Maria Blanca Kim Lokin signed the MoU at the PPPI headquarters in Makati City in the presence of CIAC directors Glenn Albano, Victor Manuel, and Rommel Ma. Santiago, together with CIAC Senior Executive Assistant Atty. Marie Elizabeth Lotilla, and Chief Strategic Urban Planner Melissa Feliciano, other PPPI representatives and CIAC personnel.

Clark’s strategic location

“We look forward to this great opportunity as Clark’s strategic location provides a sprawling and uncongested complex in close proximity to Clark International Airport, major seaports, and national road networks in a disaster-resilient environment,” Lokin said.

“This opportunity provides unparalleled advantage for PPPI’s logistics operations and medical supply distribution, and ideal for us to build an integrated modern warehousing with cold chain solutions,” she added.

“Further, this partnership will support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision to establish pharmaceutical ecozones with the end in view of improving access to medicines and reducing the country’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. The developments to be jointly made by PPPI and CIAC will be instrumental in the roll-out of the Botika at Bakuna Para Sa Mamamayan Program,” Lokin noted.