The United States, Japan and the Philippines have started the process of identifying projects under the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Meanwhile, the US further strengthened its support to the Philippines in improving its internet access.
On the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Taguig City on Tuesday, the Luzon Corridor steering committee held its inaugural meeting on how to drive infrastructure investment and development along the Corridor.
US Senior Advisor to the President for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein, along with acting special coordinator for Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) Helaina Matza, joined fellow co-chairs Philippine senior advisor to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go and Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs director-general for International Cooperation Bureau Ishizuki Hideo for the inaugural meeting.
The Luzon Economic Corridor is the first PGI economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Corridor will support connectivity among Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas as well as facilitate strategic, anchor investments within each hub in high-impact infrastructure projects, including rail, port modernization, agribusiness, and clean energy and semiconductor supply chains and deployments.
The Steering Committee aims to implement the Trilateral Leaders’ commitment in April to develop the Luzon Economic Corridor under the PGI Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Investment Accelerator.
The partners discussed priority sectors for engagement and reviewed potential projects and areas of interest, committing to future meetings on a quarterly basis.
Also on Tuesday at the IPBF, the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to Filipino company Responsible Internet Sustainability Effort Inc. (RISE) for a feasibility study (FS) that will help internet service providers in the Philippines strengthen the delivery of high-quality and resilient internet services, especially in underserved communities.
RISE selected California-based Connectivity Capital LLC to conduct the study.
“USTDA partners with companies like RISE to improve access to affordable and reliable internet connectivity for underserved communities in the Indo-Pacific. Planning the deployment of innovative technology is part of our strategy to promote inclusive economic growth,” said Enoh Ebong, USTDA director.
The study will focus on RISE’s project to expand carrier-neutral internet exchange infrastructure through its business unit GetaFIX.
According to the USTDA, GetaFIX’s expansion of internet exchanges will allow data to travel shorter distances to reach users, enhancing both speed and reliability. This will improve user experience and increase connectivity between the Philippines’ internet service providers. Because they are located within data centers, the expansion of internet exchanges will also drive demand for new data center infrastructure and services, which will create business opportunities for US companies to partner with the Philippines on its digital transition.
USTDA said the project will also drive demand for new data centers, which house internet exchange infrastructure. This will create new business opportunities for US companies to partner with the Philippines on its digital transition.
“The US government is committed to supporting the Philippine government on its digital development journey,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. “This grant from USTDA will support efforts to bring affordable connectivity to remote communities, enabling access to the digital economy for every Filipino.”
