THE government will help develop a 4,000-acre property in New Clark City, Tarlac, into an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and investments hub, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said on Monday.
The project is part of Pax Silica, a United States-led international initiative launched in December 2025 to secure, diversify, and build resilient supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals and AI technologies among allied nations including Australia, Finland, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
The initiative implies a new era of global stability (pax) built upon secure, trusted and uninterrupted access to the raw materials and manufacturing capabilities (silica) needed to create AI and advanced technologies.
The New Clark City property is described as a “Golden Node,” a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs.
It will serve 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,” BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang said.
There will be a two-year grace period on lease payments, an unconditional in-kind contribution to support the development of economic cooperation initiatives between the Philippines and the US.
“The annual lease rate from the third year onward will be determined separately under a subsequent agreement,” the BCDA said.
“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.
