President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath to 21 newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard flag officers, including one vice admiral, two rear admirals and 18 commodores, as he calls on them to lead with integrity and uphold their responsibility to the Filipino people.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday challenged investors to move the Luzon Economic Corridor from planning tables to construction sites, saying its value would ultimately depend on projects that secure financing, begin operations and generate jobs.
Marcos made the pitch at the opening of the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, a two-day gathering designed to connect investors with infrastructure projects seeking financing. The forum is expected to draw about 600 investors, industry executives, project developers and government officials.
The President said the government wanted investors to view the Philippines as a long-term business partner, pointing to efforts to improve transport links, energy supply, digital infrastructure and the investment environment.
The corridor links Subic Bay, Clark, Metro Manila and Batangas, connecting major ports, industrial zones and economic centers in Luzon. Priority areas include transportation, energy, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, with semiconductor supply chains among the sectors targeted for expansion.
First announced by the Philippines, United States and Japan in April 2024, the LEC became the first economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific under the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. A steering committee was subsequently formed to coordinate investments and infrastructure development.
The initiative has since widened beyond its three founding partners. In May 2026, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom joined the partnership, broadening the group of governments supporting investment along the corridor.
One emerging project is an AI-focused industrial hub planned on about 4,000 acres in Clark. Announced by Philippine and US officials in April, the development is intended to accommodate semiconductor, critical-minerals processing, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence-related operations.
The forum is also providing a venue for new energy cooperation. The United States and the Philippines are scheduled to sign a $60-million grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation aimed at improving energy-sector governance, reducing electricity costs and strengthening reliability.