MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) has opened its first specialized warehouse designed to handle temperature-sensitive cargo like medicines and medical supplies and equipment.
Postmaster General Josefina de la Cruz led the launch of the PhilPost temperature-controlled warehouse, an 845-square-meter facility at the sprawling Surface Mail Exchange Distribution Center at Manila North Harbor.
“This structure is part of our service diversification effort [for] more opportunities to serve our clients,” De la Cruz said.
The facility, which has air conditioners, security cameras, backup electric systems and other safeguards to keep the warehouse temperature in check, will be used to store medicines purchased by the Department of Health.
“This will have the capacity to store medicines and medical supplies to ensure that their quality will not be compromised [before] they reach rural health centers in the provinces,” De la Cruz said.
PhilPost has signed a deal with the DOH allowing the latter to use the warehouse initially for one year, with an option to renew every year for the succeeding three years. De la Cruz said the government-owned and
-controlled corporation managing the country’s postal system will earn P4.5 million from the deal every year.
“The DOH will shoulder all operating expenses for the warehouse while we are leasing it to them,” she said. “So virtually we don’t have operating costs here. And we are offering it to them at a cheaper price compared to their current setup where they have a contract with a private company.”