Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) have formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly establish a pharmaceutical logistics and distribution hub within the Clark Aviation Capital (CAC) at the Clark Freeport Zone.
The partnership is part of CIAC’s efforts to transform Clark into the country’s leading logistics hub. CIAC President Jojit Alcazar emphasized the strategic significance of Clark’s location, which offers easy access to both air and sea transport networks, making it ideal for building a pharmaceutical logistics center.
“We both recognize the potential of Clark’s location for developing a logistics hub capable of handling air cargo, and this led us to formalize this partnership,” Alcazar said. He added that both parties would explore investment opportunities, joint ventures, or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to ensure compliance with pharmaceutical industry regulations and cold chain management standards.
The MOU was signed by Alcazar and PPPI President Maria Blanca Kim Lokin at the PPPI headquarters in Makati City, in the presence of CIAC directors and staff, including Glenn Albano, Victor Manuel, Rommel Ma. Santiago, Senior Executive Assistant Atty. Marie Elizabeth Lotilla, and Chief Strategic Urban Planner Melissa Feliciano.
Lokin highlighted Clark’s unique advantages, noting that its sprawling, uncongested complex, combined with its proximity to Clark International Airport, seaports, and national road networks, makes it an ideal site for a pharmaceutical logistics hub. “This collaboration provides a significant advantage for PPPI’s logistics and medical supply distribution operations, especially with the potential to incorporate integrated, modern warehousing and cold chain solutions,” she said.
The partnership aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision to establish pharmaceutical ecozones, aiming to improve access to medicines and reduce the country’s reliance on imported pharmaceutical products. Lokin added that this initiative would play a crucial role in the roll-out of the Botika at Bakuna Para Sa Mamamayan Program, a key government initiative to provide affordable medicines to the public.
Alcazar further emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting that the presence of global cargo leaders like FedEx, UPS, and DHL at Clark International Airport solidifies the region’s position as the Philippines’ premier civil aviation logistics hub. “This collaboration with PPPI strengthens our goal to become the leading global logistics center in the country,” he said.
Strategically located at the heart of Luzon, Clark Aviation Capital is positioned to be the country’s premier aviation-centric business and logistics hub. It is accessible by road via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), as well as by rail through the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the planned Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Cargo Railway.
With this strategic location and the planned logistics hub, Alcazar emphasized that the partnership would improve healthcare services and ensure access to affordable medicines for communities nationwide. “This initiative is in line with President Marcos’ eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which prioritizes accessible and affordable healthcare for all Filipinos,” he added.
PPPI, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is responsible for managing pharmaceutical investments and providing low-cost, quality medicine and medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities across the country. This partnership with CIAC marks a significant step in enhancing the logistics and distribution of critical medical supplies throughout the Philippines.
