THE proposed 1,600-hectare high-tech industrial hub in New Clark City positions the Philippines as a key player in the global value chain – luring investors in strategic and emerging industries, creating quality jobs for Filipinos, boosting industrial competitiveness, and spurring the local economy.
Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Industry Development and Investment Promotions Group, said the high-tech industrial hub under the Pax Silica initiative is among the many projects intended to fulfill the vision of President Marcos.
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, Marcos said, ‘We continue to strive for bigger and greater things, venturing into areas heretofore unimaginable. That is, strategic and emerging industries that position our country in the global value-chain, such as in the fields of pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, luxury goods, technology, and logistics.’
‘The Pax Silica Industrial Hub will create an eco-system that will have AI at its core. It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy. As a strategic component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, the hub will be an advanced manufacturing and logistics center in the global AI and technology value chain,’ Marcos said.
Rodolfo said the Philippines needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on developing activities that add more value such as processing and manufacturing.
‘Ang gusto talaga ni Presidente ay ma-transform ang Pilipinas into a modern and technology-driven economy. At ang impact nito sa ating mga kababayan na gusto niya ay magkaroon ng malaking kita, mataas na sahod, at mas advanced ang mga trabahong magiging available sa ating mga kababayan,’ he said.
‘Ang objective talaga natin [sa pagsali sa Pax Silica initiative] ay makadagdag tayo ng value sa mga ini-export nating unprocessed materials. Tapos, kung mag-e-export tayo ng mga processed components ay tumaas tayo doon sa [global] value chain,’ Rodolfo said.
He said the NCC will be a hub for advanced manufacturing.
Rodolfo discussed potential job opportunities from these investments, including skilled, well-paid roles for Filipino engineers, scientists, technology experts, AI specialists, and other trained workers.
‘Ang estimate ng BCDA [Bases Conversion Development Authority] ay 200,000 quality jobs such as engineers, AI specialists, software developers, semi-conductor technicians, manufacturing supervisors, researchers, and scientists,’ he said.
Rodolfo pointed out that New Clark City will host academic and research institutions that will facilitate human capital development, such as the UP New Clark City extension office, the future Philippine Science High School’s Infinitum Center, which will be a continuing education center for science and mathematics teachers, and the planned Technological University of the Philippines and Polytechnic University of the Philippines campuses in New Clark City.
‘Hindi po hyperscale data centers ang itatayo natin dito [sa New Clark City] kundi mga pabrika, advanced manufacturing [industries] ang itatayo natin,’ he reiterated.
Rodolfo addressed concerns about water and electricity use for industrial projects, stressing how the government plans to provide enough resources while also considering the needs of local communities and other areas.
‘Kahit po mga factories kailangan nila ng kuryente. Kailangan din nila ng tubig. Ang usapan po natin doon sa mga developers at investors diyan. Una, build your own roads. Bring your own power. Secure and reuse your own water. existing capacity na nakatutok na sa mga communities around it. Magkakaroon po diyan ng additional power capacity additional water impounding stations. Kung ano po ang sosobra ay maiishare natin sa mga komunidad,’ he added.