Telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. is prepared to join the proposed artificial intelligence (AI) industrial hub in New Clark City, but company chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan warned that the project could falter without a structured industry roadmap.
While Pangilinan views the AI hub—a joint initiative between the Philippines and the United States—as a significant commercial opportunity, he emphasized that the current domestic environment is not yet equipped for an undertaking of this scale.
“I think PLDT should be part of that. And we’d like to do it, we just need a blueprint,” Pangilinan told reporters. “Nothing’s going to happen in the industry by being where we are today.”
The planned hub is designed to support the U.S.-led “Pax Silica” initiative, which aims to secure a global supply chain for AI development.
Pangilinan noted that to successfully attract foreign investments, the Philippine government must first address severe gaps in infrastructure and workforce readiness. Assessing the nation’s current capabilities, he stated,
“Do we have them? We don’t.”
To bridge these gaps, the PLDT chief urged the Marcos administration to fast-track a comprehensive policy for the data center sector, specifically pushing for a strict data sovereignty framework.
This scheme would require local public and private entities to store their data domestically rather than relying on overseas servers.
“We should require both government and private sector companies to store their data here like other countries have required,” Pangilinan said.
He added, “The data of foreign companies belongs to them, so let them store it wherever they want. But at least the Philippine companies should store their data here and patronize our own industry, because otherwise, we won’t grow.”
According to PLDT estimates, government data requirements alone could demand up to 270 megawatts (MW) of power, vastly exceeding the country’s current total data center capacity of 120 MW. Despite the massive scale, Pangilinan observed that the industry remains hesitant as players wait for legislative clarity amid political uncertainties.
Should the government deliver a concrete development plan, Pangilinan indicated that his broader business conglomerate is ready to back the hub.
Under this synergy, Meralco could build dedicated power plants to meet the heavy energy demands of the data centers, while Maynilad Water Services Inc. would handle the essential water pipeline infrastructure.
The Clark AI hub is scheduled to begin initial development next year, with more than 20 U.S.-based firms already expressing interest in the project.