NEW CLARK CITY, Philippines — A 4,000-acre property within New Clark City, Tarlac is set to transform into an industrial hub centered on artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and investments, advancing the Philippine government’s goal of positioning the country as a key global player in emerging technologies. This development comes as the Philippines formally joins the Pax Silica Declaration, a United States-led initiative that seeks to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain covering critical minerals, semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The country’s participation in this initiative signals its intent to play a more active role in the rapidly evolving AI and semiconductor landscape. This is in sync with the Marcos administration’s target of establishing the Philippines as a regional AI powerhouse under the National AI Strategy Roadmap. “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 in a statement. As part of the country’s commitment, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has allocated a 4,000-acre lot in New Clark City to serve as a Pax Silica Coordination Office where technology firms, research institutions, and government agencies can converge to build a robust AI ecosystem, accelerate innovation, attract high-value investments. Strategically located within the Luzon Economic Corridor, the Coordination Office is the first of its kind to be established under Pax Silica. It is being designated as a “Golden Node,” a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs. “The Golden Node is not about recreating the factories of the last century. It is about building the manufacturing ecosystems of the next century—AI-native from day one, anchored in the rule of law, and integrated into a network of trusted nations that will define global supply chain resilience for decades to come,” US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said in a separate statement. *New Clark City as next AI hub* BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said this development places New Clark City at the center of a pivotal transformation, one that will shape a more innovative, inclusive, and future-ready Philippines. “By establishing this Golden Node, we stand to position New Clark City 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,” he said. The BCDA will extend a two-year grace period on lease payments, which will be treated as an unconditional in-kind contribution to support the development of economic cooperation initiatives between the two countries. The annual lease rate from the third year onwards will be determined separately under a subsequent agreement. New Clark City is being developed as the country’s first smart, disaster-resilient, and green metropolis. To achieve this vision, the BCDA is actively working to attract technology-driven industries by fostering innovation, building a robust digital infrastructure, and advancing the city as a competitive hub for AI and advanced manufacturing.      

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines —Visitors to the Freeport now have a new destination to enjoy, as the Clark International Airport Corp.(CIAC) officially opened the Clark Picnic Grounds, on Saturday, April 18. CIAC President and CEO Jojit Alcazar said Phase 1 of the project covers an initial five hectares of the total nine-hectare property. “The project is part of our Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation Program, which is an integral component of CIAC’s seven flagship initiatives,” he said. Located along Gil Puyat Avenue, the newly refurbished and reimagined Clark Picnic Grounds is a vibrant and inclusive public space. Designed as a modern park, it features jogging and walking paths, recreational and wellness facilities, an amphitheater, a playground, and a picnic grove. Opening day activities include a flea market envisioned as a lively weekend bazaar with a mix of food and non-food merchants, as well as food trucks, offering visitors a diverse selection of products. The expansive grounds are lined with century-old acacia trees that form a natural canopy, making the area ideal for outdoor gatherings, leisure, and recreation. “Through this project, we have integrated modern urban planning principles to promote sustainability, optimize land use, and enhance the overall quality of life in the community,” Alcazar added. Alcazar noted that the Clark Picnic Grounds complements other outdoor destinations in Clark, such as the Clark Parade Grounds, Bicentennial Park, and Air Force City Park. As the premier aviation and land development arm of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), CIAC remains committed to transforming the Clark Civil Aviation Complex into Clark Aviation Capital, a dynamic business center envisioned as the country’s leading global aviation and logistics hub.        

By Charmaine Odong-Pangan   STA. CRUZ, Laguna, Philippines (PIA) — In support of local farmers affected by the rising cost of fuel amid the crisis, the provincial government of Laguna launched the “Laguna Pantry Program” last April 13 to help ease their burden and provide free vegetables to the public. According to Governor Sol Aragones, this initiative is part of their action to help local farmers by sourcing out their fresh vegetable produce and distribute them to communities and beneficiaries across the four districts of the province. “These vegetables will be purchased from farmers and vegetable growers in Laguna. This is why we spoke with them earlier, so that they can at least have some additional income,” Aragones stated in her official Facebook video. The provincial government earlier visited farmers in the Nagcarlan town and personally spoke with them to assess their situation. The Laguna Pantry will procure produce directly from farmers, repackage it, and distribute it to residents. She added, “This way we could help our fellow citizens, even in small ways. We will package the vegetables into chopseuy package and ginisa package.” As the implementation expands, the provincial government assured farmers that it will source products from each district in Laguna to ensure wider participation and stronger support for local agriculture, while maintaining a steady supply for beneficiaries. Despite budget constraints, the governor said the initiative comes at a crucial time for local farmers who were badly hit by high oil prices, at the same time, to strengthen food security through farm-to-community distribution. Meanwhile, the program will be rolled out in phases, with scheduled distribution to ensure orderly and equitable access for beneficiaries, while the public is advised to await official announcements on the governor’s social media accounts to know the distribution schedule. (COP/PIA-CALABARZON)