MANILA, Philippines — The plan to transform the country into a premier technological epicenter is gaining massive international traction.More than 20 major technology and infrastructure companies from the United States and the Middle East have formally expressed interest in occupying the planned artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor supply chain hub in New Clark City.
The surge in investor interest comes as American and Philippine trade officials move rapidly to finalize the specific industrial frameworks that will govern the sprawling, 1,619-hectare (4,000-acre) megaproject.
The planned digital sanctuary, fast-tracked under the strategic “Pax Silica” economic initiative, has drawn intense attention from global technology firms aiming to secure and diversify their global hardware supply lines:
- The US Delegation: Jacob Helberg, the US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, recently conducted a high-profile site assessment of the Central Luzon property alongside a delegation of more than a dozen American tech executives.
- Multinational Interest: Beyond the US, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Joshua Bingcang confirmed that major Japanese, South Korean, and Middle Eastern enterprises have also submitted preliminary expressions of interest.
The BCDA is exploring three distinct legal pathways to accommodate international investors on the property: straight lease agreements, structural joint ventures, or long-term concession models.
[2-Month Feasibility Study] ──> [Project Cost Estimation] ──> [Phase 1 Groundbreaking (2027/2028)]
- The Feasibility Stage: A comprehensive feasibility study is slated to launch within the next two months to map out precise financial allocations and physical infrastructure prerequisites.
- The Construction Phases: While the BCDA initially targeted a formal groundbreaking ceremony by 2028, US officials are pushing to accelerate the timeline, anticipating that localized development could begin in phases as early as 2027.
- The US Lease Incentive: As the master lessee of the designated tech zone, the United States will be granted a two-year grace period on lease payments. This financial concession will be treated as an in-kind contribution toward the site’s initial heavy infrastructure phase.
Despite the intense US involvement and an earlier report from the Wall Street Journal suggesting potential extraterritorial provisions, Philippine authorities established a strict baseline regarding national sovereignty.
The BCDA explicitly clarified that the AI hub will not enjoy diplomatic immunity or function under foreign jurisdiction. The entire 4,000-acre tech ecosystem will operate squarely under Philippine laws, regulatory bodies, and domestic taxation systems—a mandate that has not deterred the influx of multinational corporations looking to set up their next-generation data centers and hardware manufacturing plants in the archipelago.
