The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said the proposed advanced manufacturing park in New Clark City under the Pax Silica initiative will operate within Philippine law and be developed as a purely commercial project, with no defense-related activities.
BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang said Wednesday that the agency’s initial arrangement with the US government and prospective investors is anchored on the BCDA charter and the CREATE MORE law, with the framework validated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“In the letter that we sent to them, it’s clear that it will be covered by two laws,” Bingcang said. “The first is the BCDA law. Second, there’s the Investors’ List Act, or now it’s better known as the CREATE MORE.”
He said the DOJ validated the use of the two laws before BCDA proceeded with the initial agreement, ensuring that proposed incentives and development arrangements remain consistent with Philippine regulations.
Bingcang also sought to draw a line between the proposed Clark hub and defense infrastructure, describing it instead as a modern industrial and technology park modeled partly on developments in Malaysia and Taiwan.
“It’s purely commercial, manufacturing,” he said, citing Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and Malaysia’s technology parks as examples.
The project remains under due diligence, with no final agreement yet. Once a framework is signed, investors are expected to spend about a year on planning and another two to three years on construction, putting the potential development timeline at three to five years.
The project could give Clark a bigger role in the global advanced manufacturing supply chain, but its competitiveness will depend on how quickly the government can deliver reliable power, infrastructure, and a broader industrial ecosystem.
Bingcang said BCDA is preparing these requirements to attract high-skilled manufacturing investments and encourage technology transfer.
“I would go with manufacturing,” he said, citing its potential to generate jobs and support technology transfer.
