Philippines Eyes AI-Driven Economy with Pax Silica Hub for Jobs, Competitiveness

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27, said the Philippines is making its way into strategic and emerging industries, citing the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub as the centerpiece of the country's push to build an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven economy. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said the industrial hub will rise under the US-led Pax Silica Initiative and will establish an ecosystem anchored on AI. "It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy," the president said. Marcos said the project would help generate quality jobs while boosting the country's industrial competitiveness and supporting economic growth. He added that the Pax Silica Industrial Hub would be part of the Luzon Economic Corridor, where it is envisioned to serve as an advanced manufacturing and logistics hub integrated into the global AI and technology value chain.