The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is two Philippine infrastructure projects that could expand ship repair capacity in Subic Bay and bring AI-enhanced public Wi-Fi to thousands of sites nationwide.
The agreements, announced at the USTDA-sponsored Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, will fund feasibility studies for the expansion of Subic Drydock Corp. (SDC) and ComClark Network and Technology Corp.’s proposed nationwide public Wi-Fi network.
The USTDA assistance will support plans of SDC to extend the shipyard’s approach pier by 169 meters, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels and take on repair work currently limited by draft and berth constraints.
California-based DM Consulting Inc. will conduct the study, including a construction-ready design package and financial analysis to help mobilize financing for procurement and construction.
SDC owner Terry Watkins said the expansion would strengthen the company’s ability to serve US and Philippine maritime customers while reinforcing Subic’s position as a regional ship repair hub.
Separately, USTDA will fund a ComClark pilot using AI-enhanced, US-made Wi-Fi access points at six public sites. California-based Connectivity Capital LLC will assess demand, technical requirements, commercial viability, and financing for a potential nationwide rollout.
The proposed network could reach as many as 7,840 locations by 2030 and provide connectivity to more than 600,000 Filipinos, including underserved communities.
USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy said the projects show how US technology and infrastructure partnerships can support Philippine economic growth while strengthening more secure and resilient supply chains.
Together, the projects give the Luzon Economic Corridor two distinct infrastructure plays, one aimed at expanding the country’s maritime industrial capacity and the other at widening digital access.
