Express integrator TNT has opened a new Philippines-based depot in San Fernando, Pampanga province north of Manila. The PHP15 million (US$312,700) depot is expected to significantly increase TNT’s connectivity and presence in Pampanga, particularly in the special economic zones of Subic and Clark, as well as the rest of Northern Luzon. TNT said the new depot is part of its continued investment in Southeast Asia and is integral to the company’s plans to build its presence and market reach in the Philippines, and across the region.

Chris Spanjaard, operations director, TNT Asia, said: “The opening of the Pampanga depot is another key milestone in TNT’s growth strategy in South East Asia. The depot will further improve the services offered by TNT to its customers in the Philippines and will enhance the connectivity and quality of the TNT Asia air and road network.”

Capable of handling 400 tonnes of shipments per day, the depot also functions as a transshipment hub with consignments from neighboring locators passing through the depot to be sorted, labeled and consolidated, ready for airline processing. The new depot is expandable to accommodate heavy freight equipment and machinery and can provide additional warehousing to nearby locators, serving as a Forward Stock Locator (FSL) for businesses with distribution requirements.

The new Pampanga facility boasts an 800 square meter operational area for handling, check-in, Larose label printing, data entry, scanning, bagging, consolidation, and deconsolidation activities, including a 30 pallet-position selective racking facility ideal for various storage requirements.

TNT Express Worldwide (Philippines) Inc. occupies 4,300 square meters at a prime cargo centre adjacent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and has an available warehouse area of 1,200 square meters. TNT Philippines employs nearly 400 employees and owns 83 vehicles, and has at least 115 flights per week.