CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — More than 2,000 direct and indirect job opportunities await residents of Calamba City in Laguna and nearby towns with the opening of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center on Wednesday, October 30.
The Maersk Optimus is the largest logistics hub built by Maersk Philippines and Solid Group Incorporated in the country. It has a storage capacity of 76,000 pallets and will serve as a transport hub for consumer goods, food and beverages, leisure/lifestyle, healthcare, technology, automotive, and retail sectors in Southern Luzon.
In his speech at the distribution center’s grand opening, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the large-scale operations of this facility will contribute to his administration’s goal of decongesting Metro Manila and unlocking economic potential in rural areas.
“For many Filipinos, it opens many new doors. In the coming years, the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center is expected to create employment for one thousand people in its surrounding communities and indirect employment for another a thousand individuals—from vendors and service providers to truckers and beyond,” the President said.
For the Calamba city government, the new distribution center will create a positive “chain effect,” significantly boosting the local economy and increasing job opportunities for Calambeños.
“This will be a great opportunity for the livelihood and economy of our country, as it will create more jobs for our kababayans and Calambeños. It will boost the economy of our country because of the chain effect it will create. We are looking forward to seeing employees that will be hired here are local residents of Calamba.” Mayor Roseller Rizal said.
According to the 2022 Economic Performance of the Provinces in the Philippines released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Laguna contributed the largest share to the national gross domestic product among the country’s 82 provinces, amounting to ₱990.69 billion or 5 percent of the total national GDP.
The Maersk Optimus Distribution Center is expected to boost the Southern Luzon’s import and export activities, particularly in Calabarzon and Bicol regions.
It is also seen to play a major role in the province’s progress as consumer demand for e-commerce continues to rise, thus needing a robust distribution network in the region and the country. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
