From left to right: President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and President Joe Biden. | PHOTOS: Official facebook page of Bongbong Marcos, AFP
MANILA, Philippines — A senior United States (US) official on Thursday said the establishment of a major infrastructure project known as the PGI Luzon corridor will be announced during the historic trilateral meeting of the Philippines, Japan, and the US.
In a press call previewing the leaders’ summit, an unidentified US official explained that PGI Luzon corridor — the first ever PGI Corridor in the Indo-Pacific — will connect Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas “to accelerate coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects.”
READ: What to expect from Philippines, US, Japan’s first trilateral summit
“[These include] ports, rail, clean energy, semiconductors, supply chains, and other forms of connectivity in the Philippines,” said the senior US official.
“We will be holding events and setting up a steering committee to accelerate the work on this Luzon corridor, and the Development Finance Corporation will open its first regional office in the Philippines as part of this announcement,” the official added.
The trilateral meeting will be attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
During the press call, it was likewise disclosed that announcements regarding Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) technology are also expected.
“The U.S. and Japan, both governments and industry, will be providing millions of dollars in funding for O-RAN field trials and the support of an Asia O-RAN Academy in Manila to enable future commercial deployment,” the senior US official detailed.
Earlier, top White House advisor Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper said below are some of what can be “announced” following the summit:
- New initiatives to enhance energy security, economic and maritime cooperation
- Partnerships on technology and cybersecurity
- Some considerable joint investments in major infrastructure areas
“Our three countries will embark on this new era of trilateral cooperation as equal partners, guided by a shared vision and unwavering commitment to a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she added.