Pax Silica details remain ‘work in progress’

The proposed Pax Silica initiative remains “a work in progress,” with its finer details still pending further discussion and deliberation, Finance Undersecretary Angela Ignacio said.

At a press conference during the first Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum, Ignacio said the planned 4,000-acre industrial hub in New Clark City, envisioned as a technology and manufacturing center within the LEC, remains a prime opportunity for the Philippines to participate in and capture a share of the artificial intelligence (AI) race.

“For now, it may be premature to be talking about Pax Silica because it’s really a work in progress,” she said.

“I think that the Philippines must seize the opportunity to become a global player when it comes to technologies that will shape the future,” she added.

Pax Silica is a US-led initiative focused on artificial intelligence and supply-chain security. The Philippines formally joined the initiative in April alongside 23 other signatories, including the European Union, Israel, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Ignacio said the proposed project, slated for a November signing as earlier reported by the government, will also provide broader support beyond AI through the upskilling of human capital.

“We’re talking about talent, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, research, and even capital to ensure that we are strengthening the Philippines’ capacity to compete in global supply chains, to become an important player in the sector of doctorate in electronics, AI, and other higher-value industries,” she said.

The Pax Silica initiative has drawn staunch criticism from left-wing groups demanding increased transparency and safeguards amid concerns over the exploitation of Filipino labor and resources, as well as the responsible use of the country’s minerals and other environmental concerns.

The backlash culminated in a demonstration at Thursday’s forum, where hundreds of individuals took to the streets of Bonifacio Global City and marched to the Grand Hyatt around the same time President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered his keynote address at the forum. The protesters opposed Pax Silica and the LEC as a whole, leading to the arrest of five individuals following alleged aggressive confrontations with police.

Meanwhile, US Department of State Ambassador Heather Variava likewise said it may be too early to comment as Pax Silica undergoes deliberations among the parties involved.

“This is an agreement that’s under deliberation, so it’s premature to comment on the details. However, whether we’re talking about the Luzon Economic Corridor, Pax Silica, or other initiatives, the goal of the United States is always to be additive, to bring more power, to bring water, to bring more benefits to the Philippines,” she said.

For his part, Marcos likewise acknowledged in his keynote speech that environmental and energy capacity — key concerns surrounding the Pax Silica initiative — remain paramount for the LEC as a whole. He called for the responsible development of critical minerals and inclusive growth for all Filipinos.