The Bases Conversion and Development Authority released its first detailed economic projections for the Pax Silica technology hub in New Clark City, estimating that full development could attract between $40 billion and $70 billion in investment, generate up to 190 000 direct jobs, and produce $200 billion in exports.
The proposed industrial and innovation district spans 1 620 hectares and targets an initial investment of $10 billion.
Negotiations with prospective partners are slated for this year, followed by a planning phase in 2027 and the start of construction in 2028, according to the agency’s president and chief executive.
Interest in the project has grown to include partners from more than 30 countries, up from fewer than 15 earlier this year.
Pax Silica will combine semiconductor design, fabrication, advanced packaging, artificial‑intelligence computing, critical‑mineral processing, energy and data infrastructure, research and development, logistics, office space, housing, and commercial facilities as a core component of the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Job forecasts range from 130 000 to 190 000 direct positions and 500 000 to 800 000 indirect and induced jobs, while export potential could reach $200 billion at full capacity.
The agency projects annual withholding‑tax collections of between P68 billion and P75 billion and lease revenues of roughly P60 billion over a 25‑year period.
A key objective is to advance the Philippines up the manufacturing value chain by processing critical minerals domestically rather than exporting raw materials, thereby creating higher‑value products for export.
The initiative also seeks to expand opportunities for Filipino engineers and computer‑science graduates, positioning the country as a builder rather than a bystander in high‑tech industries.
Full development will require approximately three gigawatts of power, prompting a focus on embedded clean‑energy solutions that will not compete with residential demand.
A 500‑megawatt solar project is under construction, while a proposal for a dedicated liquefied natural gas plant and pipeline linking Subic and Clark is under evaluation; Korean and Japanese firms have signed preliminary agreements to explore additional power support.
Water supply will rely on surface‑water harvesting, storage, treatment, and recycling, with an initial capacity of 120 million liters per day expandable to 300 million liters.
The hub remains a commercial venture governed by national law, with no plans to produce defense‑related products and no impact on indigenous communities, as the site is public land designated for industrial use and lies outside ancestral domains.
Ownership of the land will stay with the government, which may grant leases of up to 99 years under existing legislation but will not sell the property to foreign entities.
