Over 50 international companies, including trillion-dollar tech giants, have expressed keen interest in investing at the 1,600-hectare Pax Silica initiative site in New Clark City, positioning Pampanga as a major player in the global AI and semiconductor economy.
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity for the Philippines
The Pax Silica initiative, launched in December 2025 as a coalition of seven countries including the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, has now grown to include 14 nations with the Philippines joining on April 17 . The 1,600-hectare site within New Clark City is envisioned as the country's first "AI-native" industrial acceleration hub, designed to host semiconductor fabrication facilities, critical minerals processing plants, hyperscale data centers, and advanced research facilities . BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang, who is heading to Washington to finalize the framework agreement, confirmed that the US Department of State is working closely with the Philippine government to establish the legal and commercial terms expected to be finalized within the next two months . Executive Secretary Ralph Recto described the project as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Philippines to host industries that will shape the future of the global economy".
Massive Infrastructure Investment to Power the Hub
The sheer scale of the Pax Silica project demands equally massive infrastructure investments. The AI hub will require an estimated 5,000 megawatts of generating capacity, representing approximately USD 5 billion in energy-related investments alone . To address this, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is planning to invest nearly PHP 7 billion in a dedicated substation to guarantee a stable power supply for New Clark City . BCDA is also in talks with US investors to construct a dedicated pipeline to transport jet fuel from Subic Bay to Clark International Airport and exploring a separate pipeline for liquefied natural gas to support future power generation . The Maharlika Investment Corporation has expressed interest in supporting the project's energy requirements, particularly a planned solar and battery energy storage facility being developed with Saudi Arabia's Acwa Power.
Government Fast-Tracks Incentives to Secure Investments
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the swift implementation of an investment package designed to position the Philippines as a semiconductor and AI hub in Asia . The government is leveraging the Luzon Economic Corridor as an investment channel for semiconductor and AI companies, alongside the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council chaired by Executive Secretary Recto . The BCDA has already allocated space in New Clark City to serve as the Pax Silica Coordination Office, where tech firms and research institutions can converge . With groundbreaking targeted for as early as 2028, the initiative is expected to generate thousands of high-skilled jobs for Filipino engineers, technicians, and researchers, strengthening the country's position in the global technology supply chain.
