Philip Morris opens warehouse facility in Subic
Posted on August 21st, 2010
A P600-million regional tobacco leaf warehouse was inaugurated recently by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMI) at the Subic Techno Park inside the Subic Freeport Zone. The said facility cements the place of the Philippines as tobacco leaf warehouse hub of Philip Morris in the Asia Pacific region.
Armand C. Arreza, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator, said the P600-million facility is phase two of a three-phase investment of Philip Morris. The third phase will be a $15-million facility, although it is not yet known as to when this will be started.
The new warehouse will store tobacco leaf for shipment and processing in different PMI cigarette factories in the Asia Pacific region including the Philippines. Chris Nelson, managing director of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPI), said, “This development establishes the Philippines, particularly the Subic Freeport zone as a major center for regional tobacco leaf trading and distribution.”
The warehouse at the Subic Techno Park has a capacity for storing 14,000 metric tons of tobacco leaf. This can be further expanded to accommodate an additional 10,000 metric tons, according to Nelson. He said, the facility has a state-of-the-art humidity control, fire suppression equipment and air conditioning system in able to handle and carefully preserve the tobacco leaf which will be imported from China, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries.
“As with the other investments of Philip Morris in the Philippines, this leaf warehouse further cements our commitment to the economic development of the country,” said Nelson in his speech during the inauguration.
“We are especially proud that PMI has chosen the Subic Freeport Zone, from among several locations in Southeast Asia. It is a very ideal location that provides advantages in cost and efficiency over other countries where PMI’s tobacco leaves were previously kept,” he added.
The tobacco leaf stored in techno park facility will be used by PMI manufacturing facilities in the region, including the cigarette factory in Tanuan, Batangas.
