Key facts
- The Pax Silica initiative is a US-led coalition of 23 countries focused on AI and semiconductor supply chains.
- The Philippines joined Pax Silica in April 2026 and plans to develop a 4,000-acre AI industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac.
- Local indigenous communities and groups of scientists, environmentalists, and farmers are protesting the project.
- Opponents claim the land allocated for the hub is ancestral land and that local farmers are being asked to leave.
- The project aims to attract $10 billion in investment and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
A US-led initiative called Pax Silica, aimed at strengthening AI and semiconductor supply chains outside of China, is facing significant opposition from indigenous communities and environmental groups in the Philippines. The project involves the development of a 4,000-acre AI industrial hub in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.
Indigenous representatives, such as Tony Gutierrez, have stated they were unaware of the Pax Silica initiative until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned it in his State of the Nation address. These communities claim ownership of the land designated for the hub, asserting it is their ancestral domain. Farmers are reportedly being asked to vacate their land to make way for the construction.
A coalition of scientists, environmentalists, and farmers marched in Manila to protest the proposed hub, highlighting concerns about displacement and the environmental impact of such a large-scale development. The US State Department has framed Pax Silica as a strategic move to counter China's dominance in global supply chains, with the Philippines joining as the 13th signatory in April 2026.
Backers of the project, including the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), anticipate attracting $10 billion in investment and generating hundreds of thousands of jobs. President Marcos has promoted the hub as a means to bring quality employment and revitalize the Philippine economy. However, the growing pushback from local communities and advocacy groups raises questions about the project's social and environmental sustainability.