Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins calls to reject Pax Silica

MANILA — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has joined the calls of hundreds of Filipinos to reject Pax Silica, a US-led initiative that the US government says aims to build a secure, resilient, innovation-driven technology ecosystem.

The project has raised doubts among many Filipinos and environment defenders after some 1,620 hectares of land the New Clark City development in Tarlac were identified as a site for an AI industrial hub.

They said the development, which has been touted as a way for the Philippines to benefit from the AI boom, will displace indigenous communities and destroy the environment.

Thunberg is attending the 31st United Nations climate conference in Antalya, Turkiye. At the sidelines, she recorded a video emphasizing that everything that a country has should serve its people first before others.

“Reject Pax Silica. Labor, land and minerals should serve the people and planet, not fuel the wars and ambitions of imperialist powers,” she said.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Manila next week for the 49th ASEAN Summit. 

The Philippine government announced earlier this year that the signing of the framework agreement would happen this month.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said on Tuesday however, that it would not happen during Trump’s visit.

“We would like to give the project its own dedicated moment,” he said.

In a statement, the Network Opposed to Pax Silica (NO to Pax Silica) welcomed the announcement  but stressed that a postponement will not lessen their opposition to the project.

“Pax Silica remains on the table, and the threats to our land, water, natural resources, and national sovereignty remain,” network spokesperson Dr. Giovanni Tapang said.

“What we need is an industrialization policy grounded in technology transfer and concrete employment guarantees—not foreign-led initiatives that leave Filipinos high and dry,” he also said. 

In Makati, around 40 Akbayan Youth protesters on Thursday morning donned blonde wigs and raised placards that read “Deport Trump!” to oppose the Pax Silica framework and the US leader’s upcoming Philippine visit.    

“Hindi po welcome ang isang mamamatay tao sa Pilipinas. Hindi po welcome ang isang land-grabber dito sa Pilipinas… Kung ang Amerikano nga po, ni-reject na siya, tayo pa po bang mga Pilipino, hindi ire-reject ang isang Donald Trump?” Akbayan Youth national chairperson Khylla Meneses said.  

“At alam naman po natin ang Pax Silica ay isa lamang imahe ng pagnanakaw at pagkuha ng lupa natin bilang mga Pilipino,” he added. 

 — With a report from Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News