The Philippine government on Tuesday released the final version of the Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan (PAIIM) 2026-2033, a $34.4-billion roadmap intended to establish the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure through the end of the decade.
The masterplan, first introduced earlier this year, was formally presented at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City. Under the plan, the country’s AI data center capacity is set to grow thirtyfold, from a current baseline of 50 megawatts to 1.5 gigawatts by 2033, with roughly 400 megawatts to be deployed by 2030 under the plan’s first phase.
The masterplan projects more than 500,000 AI-related jobs and an additional 175,000 positions tied to AI infrastructure projects by 2033, alongside a national GDP increase of 10 to 12 percent driven by AI-linked productivity gains. To prepare the workforce for this shift, the plan includes reskilling programs for 1.3 million employees in the country’s IT and business process management sector.
Gemma Baysic, Officer-in-Charge Director of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s National ICT Planning, Policy and Standards Bureau, said the plan positions the Philippines as more than a consumer of AI systems. “[The Philippines aims] to build, host, power, and support the AI ecosystem of the future,” Baysic said.
The masterplan identifies four development corridors: Clark-Bataan as the primary anchor, Batangas-Aurora as a strategic gateway, Subic and Calabarzon as supporting hubs, and Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro as future regional nodes. Cebu’s inclusion places the province among the areas expected to host AI infrastructure development as the plan progresses, alongside its established role in the IT-BPM sector.
On the energy side, the Department of Energy (DOE) said the country will need to power an estimated 152,000 graphics processing units for its AI industry. Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario said the DOE will source this additional power without diverting electricity from Filipino households, relying initially on natural gas while targeting 40 percent renewable energy sourcing, including solar and geothermal, by 2033. The department will also examine nuclear power as a longer-term option under the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act.
Of the total investment required, $13.5 billion, or 39 percent, is expected to come from public funds, while $21 billion, or 61 percent, is expected from private investors. Baysic noted that the Philippines already ranks second among ASEAN countries in an AI readiness benchmark, tied with Singapore and behind Thailand.
The full masterplan, titled “Powering the Philippines’ AI-Driven Future,” is available for download from the DICT website.
