MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the United States announced on Friday the launching of plans to establish a 4,000-acre or approximately 1,619-hectare industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) to serve as the first AI-native industrial acceleration hub under the Pax Silica.
The announcement was made after the Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative, joining 13 other nations, with the aim of “securing the global tech supply chains, addressing AI supply chain opportunities and vulnerabilities, and explore joint investment.”
“Today we announced plans for a historic 4,000-acre Economic Security Zone in the Philippines—the first AI-native investment acceleration hub under Pax Silica. This purpose-built platform will secure inputs vital to American supply chains and transform how allies manufacture together,” Undersecretary of State Jacob S. Helberg posted on X.
Philippine Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, also the Managing Head and Vice Chairperson of the Board of Investments (BOI), signed the declaration signifying the country joining the Pax Silica last Friday, 17 April 2026 in Washington, D.C.
According to the State Department, the site – the first of its kind – is being offered by the Philippines as an Economic Security Zone, to surge production for inputs vital to U.S. supply chains.
“It is intended to serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing, an investment acceleration hub where specific industrial activities can be shaped by market demand, host-country comparative advantages, and the evolving needs of the Pax Silica network,” the State Department said.
“Through the United States-Philippines Critical Minerals Framework and the Luzon Economic Corridor – and as the two countries commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations – the two Allies are committed to strengthening shared supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, electronics, and other goods and attracting high-quality private sector investment critical to Pax Silica,” the State Department added.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, who witnessed the signing, expressed optimism about the project, saying it will “definitely” bring investments to the country.
“Secretary Frederick Go and I witnessed the signing this morning at the US State Department,” Ambassador Romualdez said.
“This will definitely bring in major US investments into the Philippines… unprecedented and ambitious project,” he added.
