MALACAÑANG VOWS FULL SUPPORT FOR SEMICONDUCTOR AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

THE Marcos government is determined to live up to its commitments to sustain the growth of a P3+trillion annual semiconductor and electronics (S and E) industry which is considered as both an “employment leader and economic winner,” Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said in social media post on Tuesday.

- BY JOCELYN M. REYES

His post comes a day after Malacañang affirmed its commitment to “fully and forcefully” support the $ and E industry through the implementation of a roadmap aimed at further strengthening and developing the industry.

Recto, in presiding over the meeting on Monday of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC) in Malacañang, said the S and E industry is crucial to the nation’s progress, as it accounts for almost three-fifths of export receipts of the country and directly and indirectly employs three million workers.

“Government must maximize the S and E industry, because this industry can maximize the country,” he said, highlighting the importance of the SEIAC meeting which aims to map out the growth, development, and global competitiveness of the Sand E sector.

Recto said the Philippines as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year should use its position to advance the country, including the $ and E industry’s interest.

He said the country must present itself as a “serious, dependable, and scalable semiconductor and electronics hub,” and the top location choice for investing and expanding businesses apart from just being a regional supply chain participant