The government is pinning its high-tech ambitions for New Clark City on two global manufacturers, with Taiwan’s Foxconn and US-based Moog Controls emerging as prospective anchor investors that could reshape the country’s next industrial growth corridor.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga said the two companies are expected to serve as magnets for suppliers and complementary industries, creating an ecosystem for advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centers.
Panga revealed that discussions with Foxconn remain confidential but said the proposed project could become the largest investment ever approved by PEZA if finalized.
“It’s going to be a strategic big-ticket investment. It will be an anchor locator that will really attract a lot of supply chain providers,” Panga said during ANC’s Business Outlook.
The proposed investment is being evaluated under the government’s Pax Silica initiative, a flagship technology development program being undertaken with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
Around 1,400 acres in New Clark City have already been earmarked for Pax Silica, which aims to position the area as the country’s premier hub for next-generation industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, AI, advanced electronics and hyperscale data centers.
Panga also identified aerospace manufacturer Moog Controls as another cornerstone investor. Following discussions with PEZA in the United States last year, the company committed to establishing its third Philippine campus in New Clark City.
“We met with them in the U.S., where they committed to put up their third campus in the Philippines in New Clark City,” he said.
The strategy reflects a deliberate shift toward attracting globally recognized manufacturers that can generate a multiplier effect across the economy. Rather than relying on standalone investments, the government is seeking anchor locators capable of drawing entire supplier networks, specialized service providers and skilled talent into a single innovation ecosystem.
Panga likened the approach to the transformation of Baguio into a semiconductor manufacturing hub, where the presence of pioneering firms encouraged a broader cluster of electronics companies to locate nearby.
Beyond New Clark City, PEZA is preparing additional economic zones in Batangas and Davao to host data center investments while coordinating with the national government to strengthen power infrastructure, digital connectivity and the country’s pool of AI-ready talent, laying the groundwork for the next wave of technology-driven investments.
