IN DECEMBER 2025, the United States formed the coalition, Pax Silica, to strengthen the supply chain of semiconductors, AI, and other technologies of the US, along with those of 15 other coalition partner countries. This industrial hub was agreed upon by the US and the Philippines last May 18 to be set up at the New Clark City in Tarlac.
This was strongly opposed by the scientists and professionals of the ICT sector. The scientist group, AGHAM objected to locating Pax Silica in the 1,618 hectares of land, for the processing of minerals needed by the technologies to be set-up, and to provide the space for the data center and the companies of the IT sectors coming from various countries. AGHAM is the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People.
AGHAM stressed that the US can use the industrial hub to expand its production of technology geared to its war adventures.
OPLAN Epic Fury
The US military confirmed that it utilized AI under its “Operation Epic Fury” in its war against Iran, where it chooses its targets, control drones, missiles, and other arms. It is well-known that the US, with its industrial complex and the Pentagon, has been developing tools for its war machine, rather than concentrating on consumer technologies for a more peaceful world.
The Philippines is among the top ten exporters of chips in the world in 2021, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The country is rich in minerals such as copper, nickel and cobalt, needed to produce electronic products. Understandably, there are about 20 or more companies, among them American companies, interested in setting up shop in the planned Pax Silica in New Clark City.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), incidentally, already met with Israel officials to craft a MOU regarding critical minerals, and met with some Israel companies known to produce technologies used by the Israel Defense Forces and the US military.
Essential Plunder
AGHAM condemned Pax Silica’s enabling the plunder of the country’s natural resources and destruction of the environment. Congress’ data covering the year 2024 on the country’s export share in its electronic products is only 53.4% of all the products exported. But in the same year, the country’s trade growth was only 0.4%, a clear sign that the country is not profiting from this set-up.
AGHAM’s Alab Ayroso said quite clearly, “It’s going to essentially be plunder, expansive plunder sa ating mga resources natin, na hindi naman mababalik since these are minerals that were formed for millions of years.”
President Joshua Bingcang of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority admitted himself that the data center planned to be located in the New Clark City will consume very high volumes of water and supply of electricity, and this will aggravate the energy crisis already being suffered by millions of Filipinos in the provinces of Luzon and the Visayas.
One big data center can consume water that can satisfy the thirst of 10,000 to 50,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Institute. Pax Silica, in other words, will adversely affect not just the immediate communities beside it, but surely many provinces.
Other concerned groups also raised their objections and branding the plan as a “massive sellout” of the country’s land, minerals and sovereignty.
So-Called Development
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) issued a statement opposing the US-initiated industrial hub, saying “To be honest, this is war production disguised as ‘so-called development.’ The government is opening our mountains and ancestral lands to more destructive mining and industries that serve foreigners rather than the Filipino people.”
Malacañang said that the project will protect the country’s national interests. Really?! HOW?!