Texas Instruments eyes expansion opportunities in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ma.Cristina Roque recently held talks with global semiconductor company Texas Instruments Inc. to support the expansion and development of the local industry.

During her visit to the United States last week to discuss Trump’s proposed tariff measures, Roque also met with executives of Texas Instruments in Washington, D.C., to explore ways the Philippine government can support the company’s expansion plans in the country.

“What we spoke about was really just the expansion of the (semiconductor industry) because (it) is the number one export of the Philippines to the US,” Roque told reporters during a chance interview in Makati.

She emphasized that the conversation had also addressed strategies for increasing employment opportunities as part of the broader plan to strengthen American firm's presence in the country.

Roque said that the discussions touched on potential strategies to address two key challenges facing the industry -- the shortage of skilled talent and the high cost of energy in the country.

READ: US to award chipmaker Texas Instruments up to $1.6B

Industry sees modest rebound

Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) president Danilo Lachica said industry growth would likely be in the 1 percent to 2 percent range.

“As you know, we came from two back-to-back contractions, 8 percent in 2023, 6 percent in 2024. So, we're treading carefully,” said the trade association official.

Despite the less-than-optimistic outlook, the SEIPI official expressed hope that funding from the U.S.

In particular, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act will resume, enabling the local industry to access funds for workforce training and capacity-building initiatives.

The measure includes a $500-million International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, allocated over five years for seven countries, with the Philippines identified as one of its primary beneficiaries.

(2025/05/07-08:35)