Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said greater private-sector participation could help the Philippines identify potential opportunities connected to Pax Silica.
Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said collaboration between government and businesses will be important as the country examines where Philippine companies can contribute to emerging technology industries and global supply chains.
The company’s position follows a recent call from Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala for Philippine businesses to examine how their existing capabilities could contribute to opportunities associated with Pax Silica.
Private sector participation
According to Globe, Philippine companies already have capabilities that could potentially complement government efforts as plans surrounding Pax Silica develop.
“We see Pax Silica as an important conversation for the country, and the private sector should be part of it,” Cruz said. He added that Philippine companies could examine how their existing capabilities may complement government initiatives as opportunities become clearer.
Globe said the private sector can begin identifying areas where it may be able to participate rather than waiting for all details surrounding the initiative to be finalized.
Proposed Philippine Technology Corridor
The discussion comes as the Philippine government outlines potential areas for the country’s participation in emerging technology industries.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo has outlined a proposed Philippine Technology Corridor, with potential locations and focus areas including:
- New Clark City — advanced manufacturing
- Metro Manila — integrated circuit design and innovation
- Batangas — AI compute and cloud infrastructure
- Aurora — a Pacific-facing connectivity gateway
- Mindanao — critical minerals
- Bulacan — a potential semiconductor fabrication hub
Rodolfo has also emphasized that these areas build on industries and capabilities that the Philippines has already been developing, rather than being pursued solely because of Pax Silica. According to the discussion outlined by government officials, the initiative could provide another avenue for strengthening these existing efforts and connecting the Philippines with the wider technology ecosystem.
Globe's focus on digital infrastructure
For Globe, potential areas of participation include fiberization, connectivity, and data centers.
The company said AI, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing, and other technology-intensive industries depend on reliable digital infrastructure. This could give telecommunications companies a role in supporting businesses and technology hubs as related plans develop.
“Our role is to make sure that, where connectivity is needed, we are ready to support,” Cruz said, adding that different industries would have different contributions to make.
Considerations surrounding implementation
Globe previously welcomed opportunities associated with Pax Silica while noting that implementation would require consideration of environmental, resource, geopolitical, and other factors.
The company also noted that government officials have emphasized that projects pursued under the initiative would remain subject to Philippine laws, labor standards, environmental requirements, and national priorities.
Continued dialogue among stakeholders
As discussions develop, Globe said continued dialogue among government, businesses, academe, and other stakeholders could help identify areas where Philippine capabilities may contribute.
For the private sector, the company said this involves staying engaged with the discussions, monitoring emerging opportunities, and preparing relevant expertise for potential participation.
