Marcos orders creation of advisory council for semicon, electronics industry

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the creation of an advisory council tasked to improve and ensure the global competitiveness of the Philippines' semiconductor and electronics industry.

Seeking to accelerate the sector's growth, Marcos ordered the creation of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (SEI) Advisory Council through Administrative Order 31 dated March 28, 2025.

The council will serve as the President's primary advisory body when it comes to the semiconductor and electronics industry's development, promotion, and competitiveness.

The Philippines is vital in the global semiconductors and electronics packaging value chain, with a 5% market share worldwide, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

The AO stated that the SEI Advisory Council should provide strategic guidance and industry insights to ensure the implementation of the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (PSEl) Roadmap, including its alignment with the national economic development goals.

In coordination with the SEI Advisory Council, the AO tasked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to develop the PSEl Roadmap, which will serve as a strategic framework to accelerate the growth and global competitiveness of the country's semiconductor and electronics industry.

The SEI Advisory Council will be chaired by the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, with the trade secretary as vice chair and the secretaries of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), finance, energy, science and Technology; labor and employment; and education as members.

Other council members are the chairpersons of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and one private sector representative from the semiconductor and electronics industry to be appointed by the President.

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go said the AO's issuance has highlighted the administration's commitment to strengthening the country's top export sector–semiconductor and electronics.

"This development provides us a platform to supercharge industry growth, drive innovation, and enhance our global competitiveness," Go said in a press release.

"It is part of our broader strategy to advance domestic manufacturing capabilities and move towards higher value-added activities," he added.

Go said that through the advisory council, the government can operationalize a whole-of-government approach to facilitate investments that will generate thousands of jobs for Filipinos. — VDV, GMA Integrated News