ERIA and DTI Philippines Advance ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap through Final Regional Consultation

Manila, 16-17 July 2026: Marking the final round of the consultation process, ERIA, in partnership with the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), convened the Third Regional Workshop on Developing the ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap: Enabling Pathways for Strategic Investment in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

The workshop built on the first and second regional consultations held in March and May 2026, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, trade association representatives, academics, and researchers from across the region.

Central to the workshop was gathering stakeholder feedback on the draft ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap 2026-2030, one of the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) of the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship in 2026. The presentation of the draft marked a significant milestone for the ERIA-Philippines study team as it moves towards finalising the roadmap.

Representatives from several Philippine government departments and agencies participated, including the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Board of Investments (BOI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and DTI. The private sector was also strongly represented through the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI), the Electronics Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc. (EIAPI), and the Philippine Integrated Circuit Design Association (PICDA).

Sessions and Outcomes

Ms Anna Maria Rosario D. Robeniol, Senior Policy Fellow at ERIA, delivered the opening remarks. She thanked participants for their valuable contributions during the previous consultations and noted that the draft roadmap was also being circulated through the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials' Meeting (SEOM) process.

Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist at ERIA, introduced the draft roadmap. Expanded to four strategic focus areas - Talent Development and Mobility, Technology and Infrastructure, Supply Chain and Strategic Investment Architecture, and Cross-Sectoral Coordination and Regional Governance - the roadmap envisions ASEAN as a competitive, secure, and resilient global semiconductor hub. The expanded framework reflects stakeholder aspirations expressed during earlier consultations to strengthen regional co-ordination, deepen supply chain integration, and build a more robust semiconductor ecosystem as ASEAN moves from passive foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction towards strategic investment anchoring. Dr Phoumin also underscored the importance of placing talent development at the forefront as the foundation for technological upgrading and supply chain resilience.

The workshop continued with three thematic discussions led by members of the study team.

Session 1: Technology and Infrastructure, moderated by Dr Josef T. Yap, Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo School of Government, focused on the concept of 'investment anchoring' - embedding firms in ASEAN through research and development linkages, supplier development, technology transfer, and workforce training. He also highlighted the importance of prioritising the quality rather than the quantity of FDI. Participants recommended that the roadmap include ambitious targets and projections and be promoted alongside the ASEAN Framework for Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain (AFISS).

Session 2: Talent Development and Mobility, moderated by Prof. Krista Danielle S. Yu of De La Salle University, examined four key talent gaps: interest, skills alignment, industry exposure, and retention in the context of labour mobility. She emphasised that developing the talent pipeline should begin well before university. Participants also suggested broadening the roadmap to cover value chain activities beyond integrated circuit design and advanced packaging, citing manufacturing spillover effects and growing demand for printed circuit boards and photonics. Additional recommendations included leveraging open-source platforms, developing regional talent fast lanes, and establishing educational sandboxes.

Session 3: Supply Chain and Strategic Investment Architecture, moderated by Prof. Lawrence Dacuycuy of De La Salle University, explored the need for a co-ordinated regional supply chain built on regulatory harmonisation, complementary specialisation, and resilience. He described public procurement as a potential demand driver and encouraged ASEAN to reduce internal frictions while transitioning from a technology taker to a technology maker. Participants also discussed the possibility of an 'ASEAN Chips Act' to support implementation of the roadmap and recommended placing greater emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.

Concluding the technical sessions, Ms Robeniol invited participants to share final reflections before the roadmap enters its finalisation stage. She assured attendees that all feedback would be consolidated alongside comments received through the SEOM process. Participants called for broader outreach, more ambitious outcome targets, and stronger linkages amongst the roadmap's initiatives to facilitate effective implementation.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Mr Allan B. Gepty, Undersecretary of the International Trade Group at DTI Philippines. As the Philippine representative to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council, Undersecretary Gepty underscored the importance of developing a deep regional talent pool and strengthening regional co-ordination to enhance ASEAN's attractiveness and competitiveness as an indispensable global semiconductor hub. Against the backdrop of current geopolitical tensions, he also emphasised ASEAN's neutrality, reflected in the principle of ASEAN Centrality, as a key factor in maintaining the confidence of global semiconductor investors.

Photo Credit: ASEAN-BAC Philippines