Cavite to Host Philippines’ Largest Data Center in $500M Expansion

ePLDT Inc is conducting feasibility studies for a 100-megawatt data center in Cavite province, a facility that would dwarf the country’s current largest such site as the Philippine telecoms unit races to meet surging demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services.

The planned General Trias facility would double the capacity of ePLDT’s existing flagship VITRO Sta. Rosa campus, which currently operates at 50 megawatts across five hectares in neighboring Laguna province, company President Victor Genuino told reporters on Monday.

“We are checking the potential site. What we are doing now is what you call a vulnerability and risk assessment,” Genuino said on the sidelines of an AI conference in Manila.

Construction could begin as early as 2026 if studies conclude this year, though ePLDT is waiting for its Sta. Rosa facility to reach higher occupancy levels before committing to the Cavite project, Genuino said.

The company, the information technology arm of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT), is also evaluating emerging data center technologies to ensure the new facility doesn’t become obsolete upon completion, expected around 2028.

“We have to monitor the trends in technology. So that when we build something, we want to ensure that it is not old technology,” Genuino said.

The expansion comes as ePLDT’s VITRO unit pursues a partner to buy up to 49% of its data center business, valued at $1 billion. PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan said in August those talks had resumed after earlier discussions stalled.

“We are just trying to find the right partner for our data center assets. It is a very critical asset,” Genuino said, declining to identify potential buyers.

VITRO currently operates 11 data centers across the Philippines with combined capacity approaching 100 megawatts, serving enterprise clients and hyperscale cloud providers in metro Manila and regional hubs including Cebu and Davao.

The planned Cavite facility will be developed in phases starting at 20 megawatts, ePLDT said previously.