MANILA, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is putting up a modern and world-class Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC) to boost the country’s semiconductor and electronics industry.
In his message keynoting the 12th Chief Executive Officer Forum and 114th General Membership Meeting of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) held at the Solaire Resort and Casino Manila in Paranaque City on Monday, the Chief Executive indicated the center designed to improve the industry’s testing and prototyping capabilities, will open next year.
“On top of this, we have an international initiative that establishes relationships with renowned institutions: the Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes or PCARI Project,” the President said.
“Under PCARI, the Institute for Information Infrastructure Development, or IIID, will focus on research and development for increased competitiveness of the Information and Communications Technology, and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries. This is a project that will serve both the needs of the academe and of industries like yours—ultimately redounding to the benefit of our countrymen,” he said.
Last May, the President inaugurated the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) at the DOST compound in Bicutan, Taguig.
“You are likely already familiar with the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory, or ADMATEL, established by our Department of Science and Technology. Failure analysis and other tests can be conducted here as opposed to sending products to other countries—potentially cutting down on your expenses and the time it takes between the production of and actual export of products,” he said.
There are 19 companies and institutions from your industry — 16 from SEIPI — that have already benefitted from its services.
“The SEIPI has 254 member companies, so perhaps I can take this opportunity to invite the remaining 238 to come see and test our facilities. We could use your business, and I am sure that we will be able to contribute to greater efficiency in your businesses as well,” he said.
President Aquino pledged government’s full support to the country’s semiconductor industry, hoping that ADMATEL facility would help the country gain a bigger slice of the world market for semiconductors.
“So I do not doubt that we will be able to achieve our goals, as long as we continue to view each other as true partners. Today, more and more, your work is complemented by both government and society’s efforts. I know that we will weather all adversity so long as we keep the faith in each other,” he said.