MetroPac Movers, Aboitiz Construction break ground on logistics facility

METROPAC Movers, Inc. (MMI) and Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) on Wednesday broke ground on the former’s newest logistics facility on a 20-hectare property in Cavite yesterday.

In a statement issued Wednesday, ACI said it has started work on the MMI’s South Mega Distribution Center (South Mega DC), which stands along Arnaldo Highway between Barangays Santiago and Pasong Kawayan in General Trias City.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) logistics unit bought the Cavite property for P1.2 billion last year.

South Mega DC is seen to facilitate the movement of goods and inventories for MMI’s largest clients once it starts operations by the last quarter of 2021.

MMI has tapped ACI and DCCD Engineering Corp. for the pre-construction and project management needs of the project. ACI, the construction arm of the Aboitiz group, is in charge of the master plan and basic design, while DCCD Engineering will act as project manager.

“We welcome this new partnership with Aboitiz Construction as we pursue infrastructure projects in the logistics sector. Our [business] relationship began with our initial partnership in the power sector in Subic and we are bringing that good relationship to help address our country’s logistics needs and eventually reduce the cost of transporting goods,” MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan was quoted as saying in a statement.

Aboitiz Construction President and COO Albert A. Ignacio, Jr. expressed confidence the project will show the company’s “strength as a construction company but also our commitment to build installations that support economic growth and provide jobs.”

MMI has lined up a series of logistics infrastructure projects in the following years, including the North Mega DC that will stand on a 277,857-square meter property in San Rafael, Bulacan. It is also looking to expand to Mindanao, with plans to acquire a 10-hectare lot in Davao City.

Aside from building up its logistics infrastructure, MMI has also been acquiring existing firms to boost its portfolio. The company acquired a stake in Ace Logistics and Air21 in 2017 and 2018, respectively.