Foreign investors could have a single entry point to Philippine investment opportunities under a planned Pax Silica framework with the United States, as the two countries work toward an agreement targeted for November.
Ambassador-at-Large Jose E.B. Antonio said the initiative could organize investment opportunities across priority industries and help prospective investors identify available projects and the government offices they need to coordinate with.
Antonio made the remarks during the Luzon Economic Corridor Forum organized by Harvard Business School Owner President Management (HBS OPM) Philippines in Bonifacio Global City.
He described Pax Silica as a platform that could match foreign capital with investment opportunities in the Philippines.
“We will match the available funds to the opportunities in several industries, including digital space, AI, and all of the priority industries,” he said.
Antonio said the initiative aligns with his long-standing proposal to establish a one-stop shop for foreign investors, allowing them to identify opportunities and connect with the appropriate government offices without having to travel to different parts of the country.
“You don’t have to fly all over the Philippines to find out what’s available,” Antonio said.
He cited Vietnam as an example, saying investors there can deal with a single point of contact, which he described as a system that is welcomed by investors.
Antonio said attracting more capital could create jobs and generate tax revenues while also supporting businesses and industries that emerge around major investments.
“Bringing capital will provide jobs, taxes, opportunities for a lot of people, and the downline industries,” he said.
He said the country should also look beyond physical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing when identifying investment opportunities.
Digital services, programming and artificial intelligence could likewise benefit from increased foreign investment, he said.
Antonio pointed to the Philippines’ pool of skilled workers and creative talent as an advantage in attracting technology-related investments.
“We are in the best position because we have the grey matter. The Philippines is very creative,” he said.
The country’s growing population and young consumer base could also support long-term investments, particularly as demand for products, services and housing expands, Antonio said.
The Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative in April 2026.
The planned Pax Silica hub covers about 1,620 hectares, or roughly 4,000 acres, in New Clark City, Tarlac, under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
Government officials have cited potential investments of $40 billion to $70 billion and as many as 190,000 jobs once the hub is fully developed.
Under Republic Act 12252, or the amended Investors’ Lease Act, foreign investors may be allowed to lease land in the hub for up to 99 years.
However, key details of the project remain under development, and the framework agreement between the Philippines and the United States has yet to be signed.
The project has also drawn concerns from environmental groups, scientists, farmers’ organizations and some lawmakers over its potential demand for water and electricity and the possible displacement of Indigenous and farming communities.
The BCDA and National Water Resources Board have said local water sources are sufficient.
Stakeholders, however, have called for environmental assessments to be made public and for clear resettlement and compensation plans as the project moves forward.
Pax Silica is also being developed alongside the government’s broader push to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure in the country.
In September, the Department of Information and Communications Technology launched the Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan 2026–2033, a $34.4-billion roadmap aimed at increasing the country’s AI data center capacity from about 50 megawatts to 1.5 gigawatts by 2033.
The plan also targets the reskilling of 1.3 million workers in the information technology and business process management sector.
Antonio serves as the Philippines’ Ambassador-at-Large for Trade Relations. He previously served as Special Envoy to China in 2005 and Special Trade Envoy to the United States in 2016.
He is also the founder of Century Properties Group.
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