The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says the proposed Pax Silica initiative could generate between 180,000 and 500,000 digital and digital-related jobs, as the Philippines emerges as a top choice for artificial intelligence and data center investments.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda shared these projections during a recent roundtable interview with reporters, noting the figures come from discussions with international technology investors and United States government officials supporting digital infrastructure growth in the country. “Once Pax Silica happens… between 180,000 to 500,000,” Aguda confirmed, referring to the project’s estimated employment impact.
Launched in December 2025, Pax Silica is a United States-led effort to build a secure, innovation-focused silicon supply chain covering critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and logistics. Aguda explained the upper end of the job estimate was first raised by US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg during his recent visit to the Philippines, where he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss technology partnerships. “As mentioned, when the President and I sat down during USec. Jacob Helberg’s visit, his opening line was, ‘This can produce 500,000 jobs,’” Aguda recalled.
These roles will span far beyond basic data center operations, including technical support, artificial intelligence services, cloud computing and other specialized fields that will boost the country’s fast-growing digital economy.
Aguda also moved to ease common concerns raised about the project. On worries over possible strains to the country’s power supply, he said existing and upcoming energy projects are more than enough to serve both industrial and household needs. “It’s not like when you build a data center, you immediately consume all that power,” he said, pointing to a newly operational power facility in Nueva Ecija and additional liquefied natural gas capacity from the Malampaya project that will further strengthen energy security. He added that even with nuclear power still five to six years away from deployment, supply will remain sufficient for all users.
On environmental and resource concerns, Aguda noted modern data centers use highly efficient water-cooling systems that continuously recycle water rather than drawing large volumes of freshwater. “The machines are water-cooled, but the water isn’t wasted. It just recirculates,” he said. Some facilities even operate their own desalination plants that turn seawater into usable supply, with excess water sometimes shared with nearby communities. Coastal areas such as Batangas, Bataan and Cagayan are ideal for this setup, while inland sites like Clark can rely on river systems paired with recycling technology.
Aguda also addressed concerns over land use, confirming the roughly 1,200-hectare area set aside for the project contains no agricultural land. “There are no farms there. I trust that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has already mapped that out. We have laws that prohibit the conversion of agricultural land,” he stated.
The DICT chief added that his office is actively courting major global technology firms, including leading cloud service providers, to set up operations in the country. “Right now, I’m doing investment promotion. When I go around, I talk to AWS and Google and tell them, ‘Locate here instead,’” he said, noting that officials from Amazon Web Services have already held talks with President Marcos on potential investments. Drawing in these large technology players and supporting projects like Pax Silica forms part of the government’s broader plan to expand the digital economy, create high-quality jobs and establish the Philippines as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure.
