A 4,000-acre property within New Clark City has been earmarked as an artificial intelligence (AI) hub as the Philippines becomes the 13th nation to join the Pax Silica Declaration, a United States-led initiative that seeks to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain covering critical minerals, semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
The AI industrial hub aligns with the Marcos administration’s ambition of establishing the Philippines as a regional AI powerhouse under the National AI Strategy Roadmap, according to recent press statements from the Philippines and the US Department of State.
“By joining Pax Silica, the Philippines is ensuring that our mineral resources and strategic location are not simply supporting global industries from the margins, but are actively harnessed to build the industries of the future,” Finance Secretary Frederick Go said in a statement.
As part of the country’s commitment, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has allocated a 4,000-acre lot in New Clark City to serve as a Pax Silica Coordination Office where technology firms, research institutions, and government agencies can converge to build a robust AI ecosystem, accelerate innovation, and attract high-value investments.
Strategically located within the Luzon Economic Corridor, the Coordination Office is the first of its kind to be established under Pax Silica. It is being designated as a “Golden Node,” a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs.
“The Golden Node is not about recreating the factories of the last century. It is about building the manufacturing ecosystems of the next century—AI-native from day one, anchored in the rule of law, and integrated into a network of trusted nations that will define global supply chain resilience for decades to come,” US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said in a separate statement.
BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said, “By establishing this Golden Node, we stand to position New Clark City as a vital link in the global supply chain for advanced technologies and next-generation manufacturing. On the ground, this will translate into more quality job opportunities for Filipinos and greater participation of local enterprises in the growing innovation-driven economy across the globe.”
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and Managing Head and Vice Chairperson of the Board of Investments Ceferino S. Rodolfo signed the declaration to join Pax Silica. Through the United States-Philippines Critical Minerals Framework and the Luzon Economic Corridor, the two Allies are committed to strengthening shared supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, electronics, and other goods and attracting high-quality private sector investment critical to Pax Silica.
New Clark City is being developed as the country’s first smart, disaster-resilient, and green metropolis. To achieve this vision, the BCDA is actively working to attract technology-driven industries by fostering innovation, building a robust digital infrastructure, and advancing the city as a competitive hub for AI and advanced manufacturing.
The BCDA Group advances national development by transforming former military bases and properties into centers of economic growth in partnership with the private sector.
The United States welcomed the Philippines as the 13th Pax Silica signatory. Members include Australia, Finland, India, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with additional signatories expected to follow.
Pax Silica is the Department of State’s flagship effort on AI and supply chain security, advancing new economic security consensus among allies and trusted partners. There is a growing geopolitical consensus that economic security is national security and national security is economic security, the statement added.