THE government is targeting up to $30 billion in investments through the Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan (PAIIM) 2033, a long-term roadmap for building out the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said the investment target covers the full range of digital infrastructure, including hyper scalers, data centers, AI large language models, and related facilities.
‘[We expect] investments to reach $30 billion for the whole Philippines,’ Aguda said at the sidelines of the agency’s 10th anniversary celebration in Quezon City.
The master plan is now awaiting final approval. The Infrastructure Committee (Infracom) of the Economy and Development (ED) Council endorsed the PAIIM during a June 3 meeting, clearing it for deliberation by the ED Council, which is chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Aguda said approval is expected by ‘July.’
The PAIIM 2033 sets out to develop AI-ready infrastructure, expand digital connectivity, build high-performance computing capacity, and attract investment into digital industries.
Among its targets are up to 1.5 gigawatts of AI-ready data center capacity by 2033 and the creation of more than 500,000 AI-related jobs. The masterplan also projects a 10 to 12 percent potential uplift to national gross domestic product (GDP) through productivity gains and digital transformation.
The Philippines ranks fourth in Asean in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025, placing third in policy capacity and fifth in public sector AI adoption.
Despite this, the country lags regional peers in compute capacity, data center development, and connectivity-gaps the PAIIM seeks to close.
Aguda explained that PAIMM ‘ensures that the Philippines is prepared not only to adopt AI, but to become a regional leader in powering it.’
The masterplan builds on existing programs including the National Digital Connectivity Plan, the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0, the National Cybersecurity Plan, and the Philippine Energy Plan. It also supports the administration’s PAX Silica Initiative, which aims to position the Philippines as a trusted digital and innovation hub.
Once approved, the PAIIM will be institutionalized through an executive order designating it a national priority program and establishing the governance mechanisms for its implementation.