Electronics sector seeks government support

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industry in the Philippines (SEIPI) is urging the government to address crucial issues affective the viability of the semiconductor and electronics sector.

In a position paper, SEIPI enumerated their major concerns regarding infrastructure and telecommunications facilities, and the major utilities – water and electricity. Other concerns include airport cargo operations, harbor operations and waste management.

SEIPI said that the semiconductor electronics industry is a high technology business that needs to compete globally and buyers look for quality and reliability of the product as well as on-time delivery of the product.

To be able to compete local semiconductor and electronic firms must also be able to have a competitive cost of manufacturing, SEIPI said.

The country’s major competitors in the industry are Malaysia, Singapore, India, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.

The government, SEIPI said, should also revive the existing railway system – both cargo and mass transport. Also, SEIPI has asked the government to construct new highways to relieve the South Luzon Expressway.

They said that daily travel time and from the factory takes from one to two hours and from the factory to the airport about four hours.

SEIPI also complained about the country’s power situation and the high cost of power. – Marianne Go