MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the National Unity Party (NUP), spearheaded by party chair and House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo “Ronnie” Puno, have introduced a measure seeking to transform New Clark City into the nation’s premier hub for strategic technologies and high-value manufacturing.
House Bill No. 11758, officially titled the Advanced Industries Development Act, is designed to elevate the Philippines into a competitive player within the global technology supply chain by drawing investments toward advanced research facilities and innovation-driven sectors capable of generating lucrative local employment.
The legislative push comes on the heels of the Philippines joining Pax Silica, a United States-led alliance established in December 2025 to secure and build resilience within supply chains dedicated to artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge industries.
In the explanatory note of the bill, the authors emphasized the urgency of aggressive positioning:
“Membership opens the door, but it does not guarantee that the investments will come to us. Our neighbors are moving quickly to win them.”
Highlighting current economic data, the lawmakers pointed out structural gaps in the local tech sector:
“The Philippines has much to offer and much to lose. Electronics already account for 58.81% of our total exports, worth $49.64 billion in 2025. Yet for all the chips that pass through Filipino hands, the country only capture a modest share of their value. Most of our work remains in assembly and testing, while the design, fabrication, and advanced packaging that command the highest returns are done elsewhere.”
Puno explained that the proposed framework aims to give foreign and domestic investors long-term policy predictability, ensuring that business conditions stay consistent across different political administrations.
Furthermore, the bill guarantees that regulatory oversight remains strictly domestic:
“The measure does not trade away our sovereignty or our people’s rights for investment. The zones remain fully under Philippine law and jurisdiction, and no immunity is granted to any person. Our labor laws apply in full, and the rights of indigenous peoples and the communities in Capas and Tarlac are protected.”
Concluding the proposal, the authors stressed:
“The race for the industries of the future is already underway, and the window to secure our place in it will not stay open forever. With this measure, the Philippines will move up the value chain, process its own resources at home and offer its people world-class careers without leaving the country.”
Co-authoring the bill alongside Puno are Camarines Sur 5th District Representative Migz Villafuerte, Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Garcia, Negros Occidental 2nd District Representative Alfredo Marañon III, Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano, and Cavite 1st District Representative Ramon Jolo Revilla III.