The government launched the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC) to support the goals of the industry roadmap, which positions the Philippines as a global partner in packaging $70 billion worth of semiconductors, assembling $40 billion in electronics and delivering world-class integrated circuit (IC) design services by 2030.
Created through Administrative Order No. 31, the SEIAC is composed of ten government agencies and one private sector representative. It is mandated to meet regularly to monitor progress, address emerging challenges and identify new opportunities in this vital sector.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) and SEIAC chair Frederick Go said the initiative would strengthen the country’s role in the global semiconductor and electronics value chain and contribute to the creation of 128,000 new jobs by the end of the decade.
“The SEI Advisory Council aims to address the problems, issues, and concerns of industry players and find solutions for these. It will focus on improving the ease of doing business for the assembly, test and packaging [ATP] segment and developing a talent pool for the IC design sector,” Go said.
He said the council’s collaborative and solutions-oriented approach would accelerate industry growth and deliver long-term benefits to Filipino families.
During its inaugural meeting at Malacañang Tuesday, the council cited the importance of forging strong partnerships with the education sector, particularly the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to support training, re-skilling and upskilling programs.
These efforts will help expand the local IC design talent pool and strengthen the ATP and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) segments
The council also approved the formation of three technical working groups (TWG) focused on investment and business environment, talent development and education, and infrastructure and cluster development.
The groups will be led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), TESDA and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in coordination with industry and academic representatives.