AKBAYAN Partylist Rep. Cendaña criticized the President’s SONA commitment to include the Philippines as a Pax Silica site. The lawmaker criticized the Marcos administration’s rush to join Pax Silica pointing out the deal’s lack of transparency.
The Marcos administration is fast-tracking a framework agreement on Pax Silica by November in time for US President Donald Trump’s visit to Manila for the 49th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.
“It is deeply troubling that the President is rushing to commit our country to Pax Silica while he has yet to disclose the full details of the deal. Bakit parang ginagawang “fast silica” ang Pax Silica? Bakit minamadali?,” according to Rep. Cendaña.
“It is part of basic due diligence na usasain ang anumang kontrata. This is true most especially for any country entering into a trade deal or treaty. Delikadong pipirma siya sa isang agreement na hindi dinaan sa isang masusing pag-aaral,” Rep. Cendaña said.
Rigorous House probe on details of Pax Silica
Rep. Cendaña joined fellow Akbayan Reform Bloc lawmakers Rep. Chel Diokno, Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Island Rep. Kaka Bag-ao in filing House Resolution 1227 seeking to conduct a comprehensive probe into Pax Silica or the US-led international advanced technology, Artificial Intelligence, and rare earth minerals supply chain initiative.
Rep. Cendaña said the congressional inquiry should ferret out details of Pax Silica and insisted that any foreign investment should pass stringent tests and contribute to the country’s industrialization.
“We cannot allow our country’s economic fate to be decided solely on unproven promises. Congress must steadfastly do its role in sifting through the details of Pax Silica and see if it promotes our country’s sovereign interests, uphold ecological integrity, create decent work, and lead to sustainable innovation and industrialization. We will insist that the House probe will hear out the inputs from all stakeholders including affected communities, local governments, trade unions, farmers, indigenous peoples’ groups, environmental experts, and civil society,” Rep. Cendaña reiterated.
He added that the inquiry must be on the lookout for provisions that might prove detrimental to national interests: “Iisa lang ang dapat sukatan ng kahit anong trade deal: advancing Filipino interests. Our historical experience tells us that we should approach promises from any superpower with skepticism. Every provision must be scrutinized for unfair provisions,” Rep. Cendaña emphasized.
President Marcos’ 5th SONA mentioned his administration’s commitment to strategic and emerging industries, citing the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub as the centerpiece of the country’s push to build an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven economy. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) previously touted Pax Silica will create nearly 200,000 and attract almost 180 Billion Pesos in investments.
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