Palace vows push for S and E industry

Malacanang said it will live up to its commitments to sustain the growth of the country's semiconductor and electronics (S and E) industry. 

This, as the Palace described the P3-trillion S and E industry as an "economic winner,” accounting for almost three-fifths of export receipts and directly and indirectly employing 3 million workers.

“Government must maximize the S and E industry, because this industry can maximize the country,” said Executive Secretary Ralph Recto during the meeting of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC) in Malacanang.

Recto also supported the industry’s vision to leverage its capabilities so it could initially expand to higher-value activities such as integrated circuit design and advanced packaging.

According to the Palace, the long-term objective under the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (PSEI) Roadmap is to establish wafer fabrication. 

The said plan calls for the creation of up to three national laboratories, “each designed with a distinct area of specialization, its own fabrication capability, a dedicated R&D roadmap, and a talent development framework.” 

The Palace said there will also be laboratories which will function as "central hubs" while existing infrastructure will be expanded to capture growth in the advanced packaging market.

Recto said work on the industry roadmap “will be closely and consistently monitored for both progress and problems.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News