FAST Logistics has teamed up with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Misamis Oriental to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) via stronger logistics support, end-to-end trade fair logistics and forward stocking solutions.
FAST CEO for Logistics Manuel Onrejas Jr. and DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Jesusa Abear signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to jointly empower MSMEs by providing logistics support solutions.
The signing was made on the final day of the International Food Exhibition Philippines 2026 held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
Under the agreement, FAST will provide end-to-end trade fair logistics support for Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro MSMEs participating in trade exhibitions, product showcases and market promotion activities nationwide.
This includes transportation of products and exhibit materials, warehousing or temporary storage, on-site delivery and reverse logistics for exhibit materials.
FAST also vowed to extend special logistics rates for DTI Misamis Oriental-supported trade activities to help MSMEs lower their operational costs, improve distribution efficiency and participate more actively in national market opportunities.
During the MOA signing, Onrejas highlighted the strategic importance of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro because these provinces serve as key gateways to Northern Mindanao.
“Recognizing the province’s contribution to the regional economy, we continue to strengthen our presence and logistics capabilities in the area to serve businesses of all sizes, including MSMEs, in Cagayan de Oro and nearby provinces,” he said.
“Through our partnership with DTI Misamis Oriental, we aim to further support trade facilitation and economic development in Northern Mindanao,” Onrejas added.
Because many Mindanao businesses rely heavily on inland freight and trucking solutions, FAST said it continued to strengthen its transport network in the region.
DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Jesusa Abear, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of the collaboration with FAST.
“Strengthening collaboration with the private sector is one of our key strategies to create more growth opportunities for businesses in Cagayan de Oro and across the province. We remain committed to supporting MSMEs in line with the government’s vision of empowering the backbone of the Philippine economy,” he said.
A key feature of the MOA is the implementation of a forward stocking solution designed to help MSMEs improve fulfillment speed, reduce logistics costs and strengthen supply chain resiliency.
Through the initiative, MSME products may be pre-positioned at FAST warehouse facilities across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, depending on operational requirements. A forward stock solution allows faster order fulfillment, shipment consolidation and improved inventory readiness, FAST said.
The strategy also helps businesses reduce delivery lead times and improve supply reliability for institutional buyers, retailers and distributors, it said, noting that the initiative would remain available to Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental MSMEs year-round, especially critical during supply chain disruptions caused by typhoons and other calamities.
FAST further committed its support for the establishment and operation of forward stock facilities dedicated to qualified MSMEs endorsed by DTI Misamis Oriental, which should help strengthen local aggregation and product readiness initiatives.
For MSMEs looking to expand beyond Mindanao, FAST pledged its support for multimodal transport through land, sea and air freight solutions.
It said it was also deploying its “mosquito fleet,” or small trucks, in Mindanao, to support “last-leg delivery” and further strengthen door-to-door delivery solutions for businesses in the region.
Beyond logistics services, FAST and DTI Misamis Oriental also agreed to collaborate on capacity-building initiatives focused on logistics readiness, packaging and labeling, cost optimization, trade fair preparation and resiliency strategies for interisland trade.
FAST currently operates four hubs in Misamis Oriental — Bulua, Tagoloan, Casinglot and Opol — supporting distribution not only within nearby municipalities but also across the neighboring provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin and Agusan del Sur and del Norte.
FAST claims to operate the largest warehouse footprint in the country, the largest fleet of trucking transport and the widest selling and distribution network, with over 13,000 employees covering 94 percent of the country’s provinces.
