Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the country, opened its Mega Manila Hub in Manila Port, Tondo last June 28, 2021.
The Mega Manila Hub—in partnership with Container Bridge Philippines, Inc. and Manila North Harbor Point, Inc.—is a strategic convergence point for the Company’s shipping operations, giving it an opportunity to synergize transport movements and generate cost savings to serve more people all over the Philippines. The site is the beverage brand’s first in the country, a new milestone in its 109-year journey with Filipinos.
The inauguration was attended by Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio, and Philippine Ports Authority Manager Annie Lee Manese.
Also in attendance were top officials of CCBPI’s partner companies in the Mega Manila Hub project: Container Bridge Philippines, Inc. (CBPI) President & CEO Patrick G. Ronas, CBPI VP & General Manager Melissa Matienzo, CBPI Group Co – Founder James Bonzon, CBPI Group Director Eric Fulgencio, and Manila North Harbor Point, Inc. (NorthPort) General Manager Romeo Salvador.
CBPI’s Patrick Ronas lauded the Mega Manila Hub for its sustainable solutions via the projected reduction of carbon footprint, and for the overall operational efficiencies that can set an example in the industry: “Indeed, this is the beginning of the evolution of efficient logistics,” he said, expressing his company’s eagerness to be a part of the initiative and the journey.
CCPBI’s Mega Manila Hub opened just six months after the inauguration of Coca-Cola’s distribution center in Paco—which itself was considered a homecoming by stakeholders; Coca-Cola’s return to the city from the establishment of its first bottling facility in the Philippines a hundred years ago.
McGeown shared, “During the Paco Distribution Center’s inauguration, Mayor Isko Moreno made commitments that working with Manila would be easy—that we would break through barriers and challenges together. He also said that we would be back in Manila soon.”
McGeown pointed out that Mayor Isko Moreno’s promise to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere for entrepreneurs has already been realized by the inauguration of two Coca-Cola facilities in just under a year.
Of Coca-Cola’s homecoming to the nation’s capital, the Mayor assured the company, “You have a receptive city, an open policy, and an aggressive city government of Manila” to help pursue business expansions and contribute to the welfare of the local communities.
