Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Monday rallied members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work together to strengthen and eventually secure a larger share of the global semiconductor and electronics industry.
Speaking before the ASEAN Semiconductor and Electronics Forum 2026, Recto said the regional bloc must capitalize on its combined strengths in manufacturing, technology, research, and skilled labor to become a major global hub for semiconductor production and innovation.
“This race is more than technology. It is about jobs, investments, innovation, and economic security. I firmly believe that ASEAN can win a much bigger share of that future only if we build it together,” Recto said.
Recto, who serves as chairman of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC), noted that ASEAN countries must work more closely with each other instead of competing individually for investments in the rapidly growing global semiconductor market.
He recognized that each country possesses unique strengths which, when combined with those of other member nations, could create a more attractive destination for international investors.
Such cooperation, he explained, could encourage global companies to have greater confidence in ASEAN as they seek reliable production sites amid geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and other global uncertainties, alongside access to reliable suppliers, skilled workers, research facilities, and resources across the region.
Recto emphasized that integrated efforts could yield more factories, better-paying jobs, and expanded opportunities not only for the Philippines but also for neighboring Asian nations.
“We cannot remove uncertainty from the world. But we can give investors greater certainty about ASEAN,” Recto also said.
Speaking on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Recto stated that the Philippines has been pushing to move its semiconductor and electronics industry beyond assembly and testing into chip design, advanced engineering, research, and innovation.
Guided by the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap, the country aims to achieve an annual export target of US$110 billion by 2030, he noted.
He highlighted that the Philippines’ young, English-speaking, and increasingly tech-oriented workforce enhances the country’s appeal to investors, supported by ongoing government initiatives to strengthen engineering education, technical training, industry certification, and partnerships with technology firms.
Recto also invited ASEAN investors to explore opportunities within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), including a proposed 1,600-hectare technology hub in New Clark City designed to support the country’s role in ASEAN’s semiconductor supply chain while driving job creation and economic growth beyond Metro Manila.