The Philippines is expected to become the next global semiconductor powerhouse within five years, based on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s confidence in the sector. The Semiconductor and Electronics sub-working group shared this optimism during a meeting in Makati City. The industry is moving up its value chain to become a partner in the global semiconductor business, according to Charade Avondo, Xinyx Design president.
“The Philippines is already known for its manufacturing capabilities in the semiconductor industry,” said Avondo. “We should be showcasing the high-value talent of our Filipino engineers in IC design and position the country as an all-in-one powerhouse for semiconductors.”
Discussed in the meeting was the opportunity to participate in Semicon Europa in Munich, Germany, in November 2025, the largest platform for the European S&E industry. The event can allow the Philippines to open direct access to the European semiconductor market.
Also discussed was workforce development in the academe and the talent pipeline as a top priority. Since 2023, Xinyx Design has been spearheading efforts to address the talent shortage, such as Xinyx Unlocked, a nationwide skills and innovation competition among universities across the country, and their annual campus caravans billed under their ongoing Campus Connect program.
Soon, Xinyx Design will sign an agreement with TUP (Technological University of the Philippines) Manila that will promote microelectronics courses to engineering students.
Avondo announced that they would be targeting K-12 students through LABS by Xinyx, a premium, flexible training platform to nurture interest in microelectronics and IC (integrated circuit) design. This is in support of the government’s goal of producing 128,000 engineers by 2032, a goalpost that was moved up from 2028. Xinyx plans to take this project in both private and public schools but found some difficulty due to the long process involved in conducting activities within public schools.
In a similar vein, both BOI and Xinyx have been making efforts to push the government to increase support for the S&E industry. The BOI is drafting an executive order to be submitted to President Marcos seeking to prioritize the sector and ease the approval of projects in revitalizing the industry.
Avondo also disclosed that the academe and private sector are pushing the Commission in Higher Education (CHED) to create more specialized majors in colleges, like BS Microelectronics.
With coordinated efforts across government agencies, academic institutions, and industry leaders, the Philippines is positioning itself as a formidable contender in the global semiconductor arena. Through international promotions and a robust workforce development strategy, the country looks forward to an exciting future in this vital industry.
