The Philippines is seeking long-term investment commitments for a planned advanced manufacturing hub in Clark to ensure the project survives potential policy shifts after presidential elections in the Philippines and the US.
Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said investor interest remains strong, but prospective investors want greater certainty that agreements will be honored across administrations, particularly for leases that could run for as long as 99 years.
“What they want is stability of policy and regulation,” Rodolfo said during a Senate environment committee hearing.
He said the proposed investment framework would be anchored on the Bases Conversion and Development Act and the Export Development Act, providing a legal foundation for long-term commitments.
Rodolfo also pointed to the Philippines’ track record of maintaining investment policies across administrations, citing the continued presence of Texas Instruments and Collins Aerospace as examples.
“We have stability of policy and we do recognize contracts,” he said.
The government, meanwhile, is looking to capitalize on strong US investor interest while current policy conditions remain favorable.
“We would like to take advantage of this and secure investment commitments and lock in the investors habang ganito ho yung administration nila,” Rodolfo said.
The push for early commitments comes as the Philippines and the United States explore opportunities under the broader Pax Silica initiative, which seeks to strengthen supply chains for advanced technologies and semiconductor-related industries.
Rodolfo clarified, however, that the proposed Clark industrial development is separate from the broader Pax Silica initiative, despite the two being closely associated in ongoing discussions.
The project has provisionally been named the Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park and is envisioned along the lines of established industrial parks in Cavite and Laguna.
Officials are also considering dropping the Pax Silica label for the Clark project to give it a distinct identity and clearer investment proposition.
For the Philippines, securing investors early could help turn Clark into a long-term manufacturing platform while giving companies greater confidence that commitments made today will remain protected through future political transitions.
