Semiconductor exports have long been a mainstay of the Philippines' exports. And while China has captured a huge share of the world's manufacturing base in the electronics sector and other industries, many companies, including Texas Instruments, are still betting on the Philippines.

Part of the reason for investing in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand is that manufacturers want to guard against overdependence on China. Too, "China does not have enough skilled operators, engineers, or managers. It is still a 'low tech' country when it comes to the latest advances in chip assembly," said one industry consultant.

In order to keep the supply chain running, Texas Instruments pays overtime to customs officials to ensure that shipments can be flown out of the country late at night or on weekends. "We've organized our logistics in such a way that we can cut a lot of red tape," remarked a Texas Instruments executive.