State-owned Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Yuchengco-led House of Investments (HI) to establish a Pharma Eco Zone in Tarlac for medical manufacturing and research and development, including vaccines.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, HI noted that aside from exploring opportunities related to the Pharma Eco Zone, the MOC will cover other initiatives supporting the Philippine pharmaceutical industry.
Through its subsidiary Tarlac Terra Ventures, Inc. (TTVI), HI intends to mutually explore new business opportunities with PPPI and consider the state-run firm’s participation in businesses operated by HI or its affiliates, where appropriate.
Potential cooperation may span business fields in which HI is currently engaged, as well as other areas in the Philippines that both parties may identify.
Trade Undersecretary and PPPI President and CEO Maria Blanca Kim Bernardo Lokin said in a mobile message that the parties are “currently in talks for the number of hectares to be designated as part of the House of Investments – PPPI Pharma Hub.”
“It will be for everything in the world of pharmaceuticals, such as manufacturing, research and development, clinical trials, toll packing and, in the planning stages, a vaccine manufacturing facility,” she added.
HI is considering investing substantially in the pharma and healthcare sectors. According to Lokin, this includes partnering with foreign companies to build facilities for manufacturing medicines, vaccines, and medical essentials to drive down costs.
PPPI is currently partnering with existing freeports and ecozones to build the country’s pharma supply chain and logistics roadmap. HI is its third partner, following the Clark International Airport Corporation and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Also in the pipeline are partnerships with the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, and a prospective partner in Cebu.
Last year, TTVI entered into a joint venture with LIMA Land of Aboitiz InfraCapital to develop a 184-hectare mixed-use property in Tarlac, marking a significant expansion of the TARI Estate to 384 hectares. TARI Estate is LIMA Land’s flagship industrial-anchored economic estate in Central Luzon.
Under the terms of the joint venture, the 184-hectare property owned by TTVI will be developed and managed in partnership with LIMA Land, Inc. HI holds a 51 percent stake in the project, while LIMA Land holds 49 percent and serves as the exclusive provider of project management, estate operations, and general support services.
This collaboration expands the TARI Estate to a total of 384 hectares, integrating commercial, residential, and institutional zones to complement its industrial core, creating a complete and future-ready environment for locators, workers, and communities. The expanded development will also provide strategic access to the Luisita Access Road—a key connector to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the broader Luzon expressway network—thereby enhancing connectivity and logistical efficiency for estate locators.
