05/08/2026
On July 27, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spoke about the US-led coalition despite growing opposition. Marcos Jr. stated that a 23-member US-led Pax Silica initiative will create an ecosystem that includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) as its core. However, several sectors and environmental activists are firmly opposed to the approval of Pax Silica in the Philippines.
The US established Pax Silica in December 2025, aimed at challenging China’s dominance in tech manufacturing — particularly in the production of semiconductors and computing components, as well as the acquisition of the rare earth materials needed for supply chains. The United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Australia were the founding signatories of Pax Silica. The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel were the initial attendees and observers of the said coalition. On April 16, 2026, the Philippines officially signed on to Pax Silica, making our country the 13th member of the coalition. This initiative in the Philippines centers on a 1,618-hectare Economic Security Zone in New Clark City. Contract negotiations are slated for this year, while planning and assessments will take place in 2027, with ground breaking by 2028.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) claimed that no local farmers and indigenous groups will be displaced by this project and will rely instead on surface water investments. However, the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) disputed these claims. This planning could affect approximately 20,000 Aetas and local farmers. The members of the Aeta community in Capas fear possible displacement and agricultural losses. It was also projected to consume 130 million liters of water and 3 gigawatts of electricity, which are comparable to the water consumption of 600,000 Filipino households and the output of three coal plants. Moreover, the water availability for irrigation — the lifeblood of agricultural production and the main source of income for several local farmers — could possibly be strained by this project, particularly during El Niño seasons when water depletion worsens. Lastly, the effects of implementing this project could be felt beyond itself. The three gigawatts of power place immense pressure on an already fragile national grid, potentially leading to more frequent and prolonged power outages. Additionally, the Philippines is already topping the highest electricity cost in Southeast Asia — this may further arise as demand from the hub drives up generation and distribution expenses.
During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos Jr. touted the Pax Silica initiative as a source of quality employment, particularly for individuals pursuing Information Technology, Engineering, and other computer-related professions. However, Kabataan Partylist representative Renee Co pushed back, arguing that the administration has yet to present clear data on the actual number of jobs the project would generate. Additionally, Pax Silica promises to bring AI into Philippine manufacturing. There may be no room for Filipino workers at all once the machines are fully driven by AI. The so-called innovative and reliable project was never meant for the Filipinos. Ultimately, the foreign imperialists are only using our country as a production hub — a ground for extractive industries that take our land, labor, and resources while giving little in return.
As a media organization, Maroon FM strongly condemns the use of AI to create fresh ideas and productions. When efficiency becomes the priority, human emotions and experiences are sidelined, or worse, totally ignored. While the media landscape is ever-evolving, it must always hold space for the creatives that strive to sincerely communicate with and represent those who consume their content.
At a time of questionable news framing and a lack of public consultation with affected sectors, Maroon FM also recognizes its role in truth-telling. The organization is committed to putting human voices at the forefront of discourse — especially those of the indigenous peoples and farmers at risk of displacement and resource loss in the name of supposed development. Criticism becomes necessary for the media to amplify when it lets the powerful know that Filipino progress cannot come with foreign nations at the helm, while the Philippines’ own people are left to continuously fend for the same funding, water, land, and electricity that Pax Silica will exceedingly require. Filipino progress cannot come with its people doing cheap labor and forcibly lending resources for foreign interests, with no guarantee as to how long such jobs will last — with no guarantee as to when Filipino-centric and Filipino-owned development will arrive.
No automation or artifice can replace the human push for justice. As long as Filipinos simultaneously suffer through longstanding issues and looming threats, there is no peace in Pax Silica. Thus, we must make noise. We must see through empty promises of innovation when real, lived evidence in our communities and our natural environment proves that this comes at a cost; we must truthfully portray such projects that fail to put Filipinos first, so that the nation is informed and ready to resist. In pursuit of a future where creativity is kept in human hands and labor is duly recognized, Maroon FM joins the resounding call to reject Pax Silica.
Written by: Angel Gomez and Macy Motril
Pub by: Brianna Lim
