A planned 4,000-acre artificial intelligence (AI)-driven industrial hub in New Clark City is being positioned as a major draw for foreign investments and a catalyst for reviving key Philippine industries, government officials said on Friday.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said interest has begun to build following the country’s participation in Pax Silica, with at least five companies and two countries from East Asia and the Americas exploring opportunities in AI-enabled manufacturing, transition energy, and infrastructure.
“This will be a magnet for all other industries to come,” said Joshua M. Bingcang, president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), referring to the proposed ecozone designed specifically for AI-driven enterprises.
Bingcang said the hub will integrate renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure within a single ecosystem. Its location in New Clark City offers strategic advantages, including proximity to an international airport, planned rail links, Subic’s seaport, and access to a growing pool of skilled Filipino talent.
Rodolfo emphasized the project’s broader industrial impact, saying it is intended to help revive domestic industries while linking Philippine firms to global supply chains.
“This is industrial development, which is important. We want the resurgence of industries,” he said, adding that local players, including those involved in critical minerals, stand to benefit.
The initiative will begin with joint feasibility studies and concept planning led by US-based partners, followed by detailed engineering design and phased development. Initial groundwork, including utilities and site preparation, is expected to take at least two years.
While public funds will support early-stage studies, private sector firms are expected to drive vertical developments, signaling long-term investment opportunities anchored on the AI-focused hub.
