Calamba City has long been known as one of the fastest-growing industrial hubs in Laguna province.
Situated at an important crossroads in the Southern Luzon highway and communications network, the city provides an ideal hub for logistics and shipping for the Calabarzon region.
One such logistics firm is SPX Express, which recently opened its 25,000-square meter facility – the largest such facility in Southeast Asia, according to company officials – in Barangay Batino last February 21.
The new facility, dubbed “SOC 5,” will handle parcels for SPX Express’ partner, global e-commerce platform Shopee, catering to Shopee customers in the National Capital Region (NCR), South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Fully automatic
According to SPX Express head Martin Yu, the new facility can handle up to three million parcels per day in its fully automated facilities.
“Being automated, this state-of-the-art facility has smart cameras scanning the parcels, reading the airway bills, making sure it moves through as quickly as possible with minimal delays,” Yu told the media during the launch.
The automated facilities meant that parcels could be sorted out and transferred to delivery vans in only a few minutes to up to an hour, depending on the size of the parcel.
The new facility is expected to speed up parcel deliveries for Shopee, one of the largest e-commerce platforms currently operating in the Philippines, especially as more and more Filipinos embrace online shopping.
“E-commerce in the Philippines is growing rapidly. And with the growth of e-commerce, there’s one more volume, but also a greater appreciation for buyers who want to receive their parcels faster,” Yu pointed out.
Job creator
Calamba City Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal, for his part, welcomed the opening of SOC 5, saying this will be a big boost for the city’s economy.
“Tayo ay lubos na nagpapasalamat dahil 1,000 Calambeño ang nabigyan ng trabaho ng kanilang kompanya,” the city mayor said in the “Dugong Bayani – Mayor Ross Rizal” Facebook page.
The new facility, for the Calamba City government, also represents the continuing success of the local government in its efforts to convince more investors to do business in Calamba City.
"Makikinabang ang mga lokal na negosyo dahil maaari itong magbigay ng mas mabilis at mas mura pang mga pagpipilian na mga produkto. Ang 2,500 trabaho na dala ng sorting center ay magpapalago rin ng kita ng mga malalapit na negosyo," Philip Bautista, Calamba City Information Officer, told OpinYon Laguna.
"Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng maaasahan, malapit at mabisang delivery system, mas lalo pang uunlad ang e-commerce, lalo na para sa mga Calambeñong nasa industriyang ito," he added.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Calamba City, Laguna Mayor Roseller "Ross" Rizal (center) and SPX Express head Martin Yu (second from right) at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for what officials say is the largest sorting center for online shopping outlet Shopee in Calamba City, Laguna. The new facility is expected to boost employment and livelihood opportunities not only for Calambeños but also for its neighboring cities. (Photo courtesy of Dugong Bayani – Mayor Ross Rizal/Facebook.com)