The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confirmed that Pax Silica projects will not be limited to New Clark City, with other ecozones across the Philippines being considered. The initiative, backed by 23 countries and one economy, wants to secure the AI supply chain from minerals to software.
Officials clarified that the New Clark City hub will focus on advanced manufacturing, not an AI data center. Developers are required to build their own roads, provide power, and secure their own water supply, with no public funds allocated.
The site is projected to generate ₱180 billion annually and create 200,000 jobs, but will demand massive resources, including 3GW of power and 39 billion liters of water each year.
Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with a Metro Manila local government unit to host an integrated circuit (IC) design hub. The partner country for this project is not the United States, but another Pax Silica member. Metro Manila already hosts 13 IC hub sites, including four Filipino-owned companies, making it a strategic location for expansion.
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The government’s plan signals a broader rollout of Pax Silica projects nationwide, with each site tailored to specific roles in the AI supply chain. This approach is expected to spread economic benefits across regions while reducing reliance on a single hub.
