Pax Silica no threat to local livelihood, communities — Marcos

MANILA— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr allayed public fear on the US-led Pax Silica initiative, saying he does not see it as a threat to local livelihood or to indigenous people’s communities.

The Pax Silica initiative has been met with heavy public criticism because of potential displacement of local communities and its impact to environment.

“I cannot see how such a development will endanger local livelihood, this is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs,” Marcos said.

Residents of Capas, Tarlac — the site of the planned Pax Silica project — said in 2019 when they faced displacement for New Clark City argued that they would not be qualified for the jobs that the development projects are expected to create.

“[T]his is part of what we have done in positioning the Philippines within the supply chain, the value chain of what is the emerging industry of the digital economy and, of course, the onset of AI,” Marcos Jr. added

Various groups have expressed opposition to the Pax Silica initiative, saying this will adversely impact local communities and could build over traditional burial sites.

Marcos said the public should not worry about the potential displacement as the government has been sensitive to such concerns.

“We are very sensitive about such cultural concerns and those are very much part of the discussions,” he said.

“Let me assure everyone that that’s not something that we are going to allow to be put at risk,” he added.

Marcos earlier said he is excited for Pax Silica, as the government had already been talking about moving up the value chain in the Philippine semiconductor industry.