The US to help set up industrial hub in the Philippines

The hub will be designated as an Economic Security Zone, a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs being developed under the Pax Silica Initiative to secure input vital to supply chains.

Photo taken fromUnder Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob S. Helberg’s X account

Manuel Mogato | April 18, 2026

MANILA — The United States has agreed to invest in an industrial park in the Luzon Economic Corridor to strengthen supply chains for critical materials, the US embassy in Manila said.

The hub, the first of its kind, will be designated as an Economic Security Zone, a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs being developed under the Pax Silica Initiative to secure inputs vital to supply chains.

The economic security zone is “intended to serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing, an investment acceleration hub where specific industrial activities can be shaped by market demand, host-country comparative advantages, and the evolving needs of the Pax Silica network,” the US embassy said in a statement.

“Through the United States-Philippines Critical Minerals Framework and the Luzon Economic Corridor, and as the two countries commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations, 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.”

The Philippines has recently joined the Pax Silica initiative, launched by the United States and 13 other nations, recognizing a growing geopolitical consensus that economic security is national security and national security is economic security.

The Philippines, a close US treaty ally, brings to Pax Silica key capabilities and human talent in technology manufacturing, including semiconductors and electronics.

Aside from the US and the Philippines, the other signatories to the initiative are Australia, Finland, India, Israel, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and managing head and vice chairperson of the Board of Investments, Ceferino Rodolfo, signed the agreement with US State Department Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.

Finance chief Frederick Go, Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, and BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang witnessed the signing of the agreement.