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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Google, Allied to launch Chromebook production hub in CamSur

Google, Allied to launch Chromebook production hub in CamSur

Published Jan 5, 2026 06:35 pm
Allied Manufacturing Corp. Asia Pacific Pty Ltd. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google are establishing a Chromebook production facility in Camarines Sur, a move intended to bolster the nation’s hardware supply chain and modernize its public education system.
The manufacturing plant will be situated within the CamSur Uptown Global City that is currently seeking status as a Philippine Export Zone Authority-registered economic zone.
The project, which is slated to begin initial operations in 2026, focuses on the local assembly of Chromebook laptops and specialized education technology devices for nationwide distribution to public schools.
Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte described the planned investment as a vote of confidence in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and a signal that the province is emerging as a regional hub for technology and high-tech manufacturing.
To secure the partnership, the provincial government is providing a support package that includes land within the global city development, preferential lease rates, and dedicated manpower sourcing.
Villafuerte also said they are committed to fast-tracking local permits through a special-purpose “green lane” and providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
The facility is designed to cover 5,000 square meters with a baseline production capacity of 100,000 units per month. Operations are expected to create significant local employment, with each shift requiring approximately 110 technicians.
While the initial site spans five hectares, the provincial government has indicated that the footprint can be scaled up to 200 hectares to accommodate future expansions, including data centers and additional high-tech tenants.
This industrial initiative aligns with a broader proposal by Allied, Google, and telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. to provide high-speed internet and hardware to an initial 1,000 pilot public schools.
If successful, the program has the potential to scale to all 47,972 public schools in the country.
Aron Saether-Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Allied Corp. Asia Pacific, said the partnership is aimed at building a resilient local manufacturing ecosystem that supports Filipino jobs while delivering world-class technology.
Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara noted that the localized assembly model addresses chronic sustainability and logistics issues within the Philippine school system.
By shifting production to Camarines Sur, the government expects to reduce procurement delays and ensure that schools in remote areas receive equipment more efficiently. Equipment installation at the site is scheduled to commence by the second quarter of 2026.
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