IPP 2014-2016

The production and manufacture of electronics products for export are among the export activities listed in the IPP, specifically the production/manufacture of non-traditional export products and with export requirement of at least 50% of its output, if Filipino-owned, or at least 70%, if foreign-owned.

BPS Product Certification Scheme

The certification of semiconductor products is guided by the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Scheme.

PNS for Semiconductor Products

There is a Philippine National Standard for semiconductor devices.

DOST-PCIEERD ADMATEL

The Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) is a DOST national testing facility equipped with state-of-the-art analytical equipment for Failure Analysis and Materials Characterization. The ADMATEL facility is based on the standards acceptable for a scientific laboratory to accommodate sophisticated equipment, such as Focused Ion Beam – Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-FESEM), Auger Electron Spectroscope (AES), and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (TOF-SIMS).

The Php 378 million-facility was established to reinforce and upgrade the capabilities of the local electronics sector and its related industries. It reduces the delays and costs of having products tested abroad.

ADMATEL has already catered to 44 clients from the electronics and related sectors. It is currently being managed by PCIEERD, with SEIPI’s guidance.

DOST-ASTI EIAPI EPDC

The Electronics and Product Development Center (EPDC) is a planned facility to strengthen the local electronics and semiconductors industry by enabling local firms to conduct R&D, design, and prototyping of products. It will offer various electromagnetic compatibility services (such as electromagnetic interference pre-compliance testing and harmonics and flicker tests); provide design, prototyping, and testing capabilities for printed circuit boards; provide electronic product prototyping for 3D enclosure design, 3D scanning, and enclosure design simulation, and enclosure prototyping using 3D printer, restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) analysis, and thermal imaging.

Industry Development Program

The electronics industry Technical  Working Group (TWG) holds meetings inviting stakeholders both from the public and private sectors to discuss updates and current activities, as well as address challenges being faced by the industry.

Among its activities are the following:

• PATHS Project. Proposed by SEIPI, the Product and Technology Holistic Strategy (PATHS) project aims to identify product niches and an overarching industry direction for the industry over the next 5 to 10 years. Specifically, it seeks to (1) determine the global technology and industry trends in semiconductor and electronics devices and technology development, and identifying strategic electronics sectors, devices and products that the Philippine electronics industry can focus on; (2) identify the necessary or desired industry resources and advanced technological capabilities, as well as the policy and operating environment that will support the thrust for existing firms to go into or attract new investors to manufacture these identified devices in the Philippines; (3) review the current country factor resources and state-of-the-art technological capabilities and the business operating environment of the electronics and other industries and the country vis-à-vis the new product lines; and (4) formulate a product and technology strategy roadmap to close the gap between the current and the desired state of the country’s electronic industry identifying specific action programs for marketing (i.e., investment promotion), physical facilities (i.e., infrastructure), skills (i.e., education, training program) policy (i.e., laws and regulations), etc. that are needed to successfully resurrect the Philippine electronics industry.
• Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Expansion. A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) proposal on the ITA Expansion was approved for funding under the EU-TRTA project. A consultant has already been identified to conduct the study to be completed in 2015.
• IC Design Roadmap and Training.The IC Design Roadmap has been completed and submitted to BOI in December 2014. The roadmap includes a rapid industry assessment, value proposition, marketing plan, and report on the technology assessment of six (6) private companies and one (1) private university.
• Promotions. IC design was chosen as a priority for an investment promotions plan. The BOI is also working on an industry value proposition that involves initial supply chain mapping of high-growth subsectors such as auto electronics, consumer electronics, EDP, LED, and Photovoltaic cells. A presentation on the International Marketing Plan for the Philippine Electronic Sector was also conducted in December 2014.
• Support Facilities. The TWG notes the DOST’s establishment of the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) that was in its Phase 2 of operations, the Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC), and the Philippine Institute for IC Design (PIIC).
• Holding of the 5^th IC Design Training Program – The 5th IC Design Training Program was held in October 2014 at UP Diliman in partnership with Taiwan Government and Philippine Institute for Integrated Circuits (PIIC). There were 29 participants to the training, mostly MS/BS students and faculty members in the Electrical Engineering/ Electronics and Communications Engineering/Computer Engineering (EE-ECE-CoE) courses from the consortium of top universities, which include the University of the Philippines (8), University of San Carlos in Cebu (4) and the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (3), Bulacan State University (1).  Also included in the training were representatives from the IC design companies such as Analog Device Inc. (10) and Zynix (3).

Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI)

Board of Investments (BOI)