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The StB GIGA Factory, a pioneering development in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing as the first Lithium Iron Phosphate plant in the Philippines, was officially inaugurated within the first two Ready-Built Factory (RBF) units of the 120-hectare Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City (FIP-NCC). Poised to be a green and digital industrial hub for light to medium manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, cold chain operations, and data centers, FIP-NCC represents the future of sustainable industry in the Philippines.

This highly anticipated event brought together top executives from Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and StB Capital Partners (StB GIGA’s mother company in Australia), as well as Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong “HK” Yu, the heads of local government, and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who led the momentous occasion.

A Milestone for Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City

The inauguration of the StB GIGA Factory not only constitutes a significant leap for renewable energy in the Philippines but also marks the emergence of Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City as a leading industrial hub. Offering Grade A Ready-Built Factories, and industrial lots, the park is designed to attract locators engaged in light manufacturing, electronics, e-commerce, logistics, cold chain, food, pharmaceuticals and data center-related operations. With access to a skilled, English-proficient, five million-strong workforce in the Central Luzon region, FIP-NCC is ideally positioned to support the country’s industrial transformation.

The inauguration of the StB GIGA Factory constitutes a significant leap for renewable energy in the Philippines and the emergence of Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City as a leading industrial hub. Offering Grade A Ready-Built Factories, and industrial lots, the park is designed to attract locators engaged in light manufacturing, electronics, e-commerce, logistics, cold chain, food, pharmaceuticals and data center-related operations.

Situated in Central Luzon and boasting access to a skilled, English-proficient, five million-strong workforce, Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City is perfectly positioned to drive the country’s industrial transformation. The inauguration of the StB GIGA Factory underscores these strengths, marking a pivotal moment in sustainable energy and industrial development. With this milestone, the Philippines is set to become a leader in electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy technologies, propelling the nation forward in these critical industries.

A Presidential Vision for Innovation

The event began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by President Marcos, with the latter pressing the symbolic Start button to signify start of the factory’s commercial operations.  Then followed a tour of the StB GIGA Factory, where President Marcos was shown the cutting-edge, future-ready technologies employed at the facility. The President’s keynote address highlighted the significance of this investment in the EV battery sector, calling it a bold and transformative step toward a sustainable future. He lauded the swift and collaborative efforts of both public and private sectors for the rapid establishment of the factory, operating just six months after the signing of the MOU during the Philippine Business Forum in Melbourne earlier this year.

President Marcos emphasized that the StB GIGA Factory, the first Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery manufacturing plant in the Philippines, positions the country as a key player in the global clean energy movement. He projected the factory’s full operational capacity by 2030, which will generate an estimated 5 billion pesos in annual revenue and create 2,500 quality jobs. The factory is expected to produce 2 gigawatt hours of batteries annually—enough to power 18,000 EVs or over 500,000 home battery systems. The President also underscored the Philippines’ growing reputation as a hub for high-tech, high-impact investments, encouraging global entrepreneurs and industry leaders to consider the Philippines as their next investment destination.

Global and Local Partnership in Action

Trevor St. Baker, Director and Founding Partner of StB Capital Partners and Chairman of StB GIGA, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the rapid progress of the Philippine business landscape. In his speech, St. Baker underscored the factory’s commitment to doubling its size by 2030 , as initially pledged to the President during a business summit in Melbourne. He also shared exciting plans for expanding StB’s electric trike operations in the Philippines and bringing renewable energy solutions to more cities and islands across the country.

Ambassador HK Yu congratulated both Australia and the Philippines for fostering a strategic partnership that goes beyond country-to-country cooperation, extending into business-to-business and people-to-people collaboration. She emphasized that the StB GIGA Factory exemplifies how global partnerships can tackle critical challenges of climate change, and she commended President Marcos for his ongoing support of bilateral initiatives.

VIP Attendees:

Government:

• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
• DTI Secretary Cristina Roque
• Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriguez
• SBMA Chairperson Eduardo L Alino
• CDC Chairperson Edgardo Pamintuan

BCDA:

• Chairman Thompson Lantion
• President and CEO Joshua Bingcang

Filinvest:

• FDC Vice Chairperson Josephine Gotianun-Yap
• FDC President and CEO Rhoda Huang
• FLI President and CEO Tristan Las Marias
• FDCUI President and CEO Eugenio Roxas
• FLI SVP and Industrial Business Unit Head Francis Ceballos

StB Group:

• StB Capital Partners Director and Founding Partner Trevor St. Baker
• StB Capital Partners CEO and Managing Partner Chris Hay
• StB Capital Partners Board Director Stephen St. Baker
• StB GIGA President and CEO Dennis Ibarra
• AMSL Aero CEO Max York
• PureEVs CEO Paul Johnston

The StB GIGA Factory inauguration at Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City marks the dawn of a new era in sustainable energy and industrial development in the Philippines, setting the stage for the country to lead the charge in EV and clean energy technology across Southeast Asia and beyond.

About Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City

FIP-NCC is a 120-hectare industrial development featuring Grade-A ready-built factories (RBFs) and prime industrial land for lease to modern businesses engaged in light to medium manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, e-commerce, data centers, electronics, and the like. It is part of the 288-hectare smart, resilient, mixed-use metropolis Filinvest New Clark City, a joint-venture of FLI and BCDA.

About Filinvest Land

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), is one of the country’s leading and multi-awarded full-range property developers. It is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the trading symbol $FLI. Staying true to its mission, FLI continues to build the Filipino dream across the Philippines.

For over 50 years, FLI has built a diverse project portfolio spanning the archipelago, from its core best-value homes, to townships, mixed-use developments, mid-rise and high-rise condominiums, office buildings, shopping centers, and leisure developments.

These include the large-scale townships: Havila (306 hectares), Timberland Heights (677 hectares), and Manna East (60 hectares) in Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba (350 hectares) in Laguna; Palm Estates (51 hectares) in Talisay City, Negros Occidental; and City di Mare, the Lifestyle Capital of Cebu (50 hectares).

FLI owns 20% of Filinvest Alabang, Inc., developer of Filinvest City (244 hectares), South Metro Manila’s premier garden central business district. FLI is also developing two townships in the Clark Freeport Special Economic Zone: Filinvest Innovation Park-New Clark City (288 hectares) and Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City (201 hectares), the latter in partnership with FDC.

Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City played a key role in the recently concluded ONE CLARK Forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP). Francis V. Ceballos, business unit head and Senior Vice President of Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), served as a keynote speaker at the event held at the Athletics Stadium of New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

Ceballos highlighted Filinvest Development Corporation’s (FDC) significant contribution to Clark’s growth through its three major developments: Filinvest Mimosa+, Clark International Airport managed by LIPAD consortium led by FDC, and Filinvest New Clark City, a sophisticated 288-hectare metropolis within the upcoming New Clark City. He discussed the positive economic impact of these existing developments and the anticipated benefits of Filinvest New Clark City, particularly its initial project, Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City, a future-ready industrial hub spurring the township’s progress.

The forum featured a Q&A session with Ceballos alongside other distinguished guests:

• Joshua Bingcang, President and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)
• Noel Manangkil, President and CEO of LIPAD
• Nancy Paglinawan, Vice President for Administration and Finance of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC)

EJAP Vice President for Internal Kris Crismundo moderated the session, where the panelists discussed the advantages of Clark projects, investor interests, and updates on ongoing developments. The forum concluded with remarks from EJAP Board Member Elijah Felice Rosales, who expressed his appreciation to both public and private sector partners for their participation. He emphasized the collaborative spirit between journalists seeking the truth and public officials aiming to deliver service.

 

BCDA Chief Underscores Promise of Clark

BCDA President and CEO Engr. Bingcang underscored the importance of the partnership with EJAP, which facilitated a successful event. He expressed gratitude to participating journalists, fellow speakers, and private sector representatives for their presence, reflecting a shared vision for Clark as a premier investment hub and international gateway.

Engr. Bingcang’s presentation outlined future plans benefiting Filipinos, including affordable housing, Clark International Airport expansion, the Clark Integrated Public Transport System, and the Clark National Food Terminal Hub. He also highlighted BCDA’s achievements, including a recent Php1.1 billion remittance to the National Treasury, contributions to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and partnerships with the Maharlika Investment Corporation. High-impact infrastructure projects like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and lifestyle destinations built in collaboration with the private sector, such as Bonifacio Global City, were also mentioned.

Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City’s participation in the ONE CLARK Forum demonstrates its commitment to contributing to Clark’s transformation into a thriving economic, industrial, and business center.

Filinvest Innovation Park in Filinvest New Clark City (FIP-NCC) marked the official turnover of two ready-built factories (RBF) to STB GIGA, the newly established Philippine entity of StBattalion and St. Baker Energy Innovation Fund. This handover signifies the commencement of STB GIGA’s move-in process, paving the way for their EV battery manufacturing facility within the innovative industrial park.  

Francis Ceballos, SVP and Industrial Business Unit Head of FLI, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting its potential for job creation: “We are very pleased to welcome STB GIGA to Filinvest Innovation Park. This partnership not only strengthens our commitment to attracting leading sustainable businesses, but also generates substantial employment opportunities for the region, contributing to the overall economic growth of the Philippines.” 

Echoing this sentiment, Dennis Ibarra, President/CEO of STB GIGA, emphasized their dedication to pioneering a new era of sustainable development: “We are grateful for the support and collaboration extended by Filinvest Innovation Park and its partners. With the official handover of these RBF units, we are one step closer to realizing our vision of establishing a world-class EV battery manufacturing facility in the Philippines. This facility will not only cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles but also contribute to a greener, digital, and more sustainable future for the nation.” 

Filinvest New Clark City, a 288-hectare masterplanned development and joint venture between Filinvest Land Inc. and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), is poised to become a thriving hub of economic activity and job opportunities. Its first phase, the Filinvest Innovation Park (FIP), is a testament to this vision. 

Spanning 120 hectares within the larger New Clark City area, FIP-NCC benefits from its strategic location and excellent connectivity. Situated just 30 minutes away from the Clark International Airport and 45 minutes away from the Subic Bay International Seaport, it serves as a pivotal nexus for progress in the northern region of Metro Manila, a mere 90 minutes away. 

One of the standout features of FIP-NCC is its Ready-Built Factory (RBF) compound, designed to cater to the needs of logistics, e-commerce, and light manufacturing locators. The compound will host 10 Prime model RBF units on a spacious 40,000-square meter lot. Each Prime RBF unit, spanning 2,500 square meters, is equipped with essential amenities such as a two-bay loading dock with dock levelers, roll-up doors, an eight-meter ceiling clearance, and a floor load capacity of three tons per square meter. Additionally, they are outfitted with a fire-suppression system to ensure safety and security. 

Emphasizing sustainability, the RBF units are integrated with features such as a rainwater harvesting and recycling system, along with solar panel-ready roofs. Moreover, the park itself is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), granting locators access to various incentives including tax benefits, simplified import-export procedures, and visa facilitation assistance for foreign employees. 

Filinvest New Clark City and its flagship project, Filinvest Innovation Park, epitomize a forward-looking approach to development, fostering growth, sustainability, and connectivity in the heart of the Philippines. 

StB Capital Partners (formerly known as the St. Baker Energy Innovation Fund), parent company of STB GIGA, is an Australian company which invests in early-stage growth companies with disruptive solutions in the energy and e-mobility sectors. The Fund leverages its breadth of experience, both technical and commercial, in these fast-growing markets to create value for companies and generate a meaningful, sustainable return. 

The two RBF units handed over to STB GIGA encompass 5,000 square meters of Grade-A modern industrial space, meticulously designed for seamless integration and immediate operational use by businesses. These state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with Filinvest New Clark City’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure, create an ideal environment for STB GIGA to establish a thriving EV battery production hub. 

The FIP-NCC is located within BCDA’s New Clark City development in Capas, Tarlac. New Clark City is a 9,450-hectare greenfield development inside the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone positioned to be an inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and smart city. Once fully developed, New Clark City is projected to become the home of over a million residents and provide job opportunities to around 600,000 Filipinos. 

The Business Delegation

Delegates from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Singapore (PTIC-SG) and esteemed Singaporean businessmen from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) visited Clark and New Clark City via the inaugural flight of Cebu Pacific (SG-CRK) last 28 April 2023. 

Included in the distinguished delegation are Philippine Ambassador to Singapore His Excellency Medardo “Dary” Macaraig, Third Secretary and Vice Consul (Economic, Cultural, FilCom Relations, Chancery Construction) Joy Anne Lai, and PTIC-SG Commercial Counselor Atty. Carla Regina Grepo. They were joined by Chairmen and CEOs from Singapore-based companies and conglomerates such as the Tunglok Group, Integral Solutions Pte Ltd, OceanPixel, BluC 53, among others.

Delegates were welcomed by a joint team of representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), two organizations that make up Filinvest BCDA Clark Inc. (FBCI) — the joint venture in charge of developing the 288-hectare Filinvest New Clark City and its future-ready industrial sector, Filinvest Innovation Park – New Clark City.

About Clark International Airport

Clark International Airport (CRK) aims to be the country’s premiere gateway to the world and is rapidly growing its flight list to include popular international business and leisure destinations, offering one-of-a-kind digital experiences to guests and travelers. CRK covers portions of the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat within the Clark Freeport Zone in the province of Pampanga. It is located 80 kilometers (50 mi) northwest of Manila and is easily accessible through the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

The airport is managed and operated by Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp., a consortium led by Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) along with JG Summit Holdings, Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions (PAGSS) Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd.; while the southern part of the facility is utilized by the Philippine Air Force as Clark Air Base. As testament to its commitment to excellence, the airport was nominated for the 2021 Prix Versailles awards.

Invitation for Business Exploration and Expansion

The Singaporean delegates were enjoined through a series of business presentations to invest and grow their respective industries in the Philippines, particularly in New Clark City, touted as the nation’s most advanced and sustainable metropolis.

BCDA, LIPAD, Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), and Filinvest representatives presented their business plans and investment opportunities to the attendees.

Filinvest Senior Vice President and Head of Industrial Francis V. Ceballos invited the delegates to explore expansion: “We are indeed looking forward to partnerships with our esteemed colleagues from Singapore, particularly those interested in industrial spaces. With its access to New Clark City’s robust utility and digital infrastructure, Filinvest Innovation Park is positioned to be the ideal location for companies engaged in light- to medium-manufacturing, e-commerce, logistics, and data centers, and similar industries, and looking to leverage digitally-enabled technologies. For companies looking to jumpstart their operations, Filinvest Innovation Parks also offers Ready-Built Factories, with the first units expected to be ready for commercial operations later this year — just in time for opportune explorations of our potential business partners.”