In line with Mayor Lino Cayetano’s agenda on economic dynamism, the Taguig City government welcomed the Philippines’ first-ever fully automated cold storage facility during its formal launching on Wednesday.
Situated at the Sta. Maria Industrial Estate in Barangay Bagumbayan, the world-class facility by ORCA Cold Chain Solutions aims to increase efficiency in the storage and retrieval of pallets and limit food contamination and spoilage.
“It is not just a slogan that in Taguig, we want it to be the best place to do business. Every day we work with our fellow officials to continuously think of ways to serve you better,” Cayetano said during the launch of the cold storage facility.
Highlighting the city’s goal of inclusive growth, the city chief executive said that more and more businesses invest in Taguig because the processes concerning doing business are simplified for their convenience. He added that Taguig makes sure that they thrive in a city that is business-friendly yet prompt in addressing their business needs.
The 6500-square-meter facility will cater to supermarkets, food processing companies, meat and seafood importers, pharmaceutical industries and others.
“(The facility) puts the Philippines at par with our Southeast Asian neighbors who already have Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) and who have more advanced cold chain solutions, thereby allowing them to be agricultural powerhouses and even export hubs,” ORCA said in a statement.
The facility also allows for real-time monitoring using IT software and digital technology.
It also has a 22,000 MT static storage capacity and the capacity to move 876000 MT on an annual basis.
Its launch comes only less than a year after the Board of Investments (BOI) conducted the site inspection on July 23, 2019 and awarded it with a pioneer status.
“Anchored on the government’s mission to steadily boost the Philippine economy, the BOI continues to drive in investments while nurturing local companies, helping them become competitive in their field with our programs and incentives,” BOI governor Angelica Cayas said after the facility’s inspection.
One of Cayetano’s 10-point agenda for Taguig City puts focus on economic dynamism which hopes to ensure full and productive local enterprises in the city.
With this vision in mind, Taguig hopes to climb further in the Bureau of Local Government Finance’s ranking of LGUs in terms of revenues. From rank 11 in the National Capital Region and No. 17 in the national ranking in 2010, Taguig jumped to No. 5 in both the NCR and national rankings in 2017.
Because it has the lowest tax rates in Metro Manila, Taguig City is currently home to top corporations, embassies, and government offices. New hotels, educational institutions, and shopping malls have also sprung up in recent years within the fast-growing business districts of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and ARCA South.
The city also received a Blue Certification Award from the Office of the Ombudsman for its streamlined frontline services, and an excellent rating from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for its compliance with RA 11032 also known as the Anti-Red Tape Act (“ARTA”).
