STT GDC Investment to Boost PH Supply Chains, Elevate Job Quality

The investment by Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is expected to support domestic supply chains and create high-paying technical jobs, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. "Beyond building essential digital infrastructure, STT GDC’s expansion — strengthened by its local partnership with Ayala Corp. and Globe — directly stimulates domestic supply chains, creates specialized, high-paying technical jobs, and equips our workforce with world-class digital skills that will keep the Philippines globally competitive," Trade Secretary Maria Cristina A. Roque said in a statement on Monday. STT GDC Philippines’ growth plan includes a total capacity pipeline scaling toward 128 megawatts (MW). At a meeting with Ms. Roque at its Singapore headquarters, STT GDC Group Southeast Asia Chief Executive Officer Lionel Yeo said the Philippines is an attractive destination for global hyperscalers. He noted that the country has competitive power costs and enough land for STT GDC’s data center plans. "Mr. Yeo dispelled the notion that the Philippines has prohibitive energy costs, noting that once administrative and add-on costs are factored into headline rates, the country actually ranks roughly in the middle among the six Southeast Asian markets where STT GDC operates," the DTI said. STT GDC also noted that data center developments in the Philippines fuel growth in key industries like domestic engineering, construction, consulting, and power, the DTI said. Mr. Yeo said every dollar invested in data center infrastructure generates roughly $2.60 to $3 in ancillary economic activity. To ensure the workforce benefits from data center investments, STT GDC Philippines partnered with global certification body EPI Group to run its DC Power-Up training program. The initiative sponsors engineers and technicians to earn the globally recognized Data Center Foundation Certificate to help power the domestic industry. The company is a joint venture among Globe Telecom, Inc., Ayala Corp. and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres. It operates seven data centers in the Philippines with a combined information technology load of nearly 150 MW.