US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton clarified on Saturday the agreement on Pax Silica, a US-led diplomatic and industrial initiative to secure semiconductor supply chains and advance ethical AI infrastructure among allied nations, will not be signed during the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Manila.
The statement comes after it was confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend the summit scheduled for Nov. 15 to 17.
In a statement, Lipton said that the signing of the draft framework of the US-led initiative will be made in full consultation with the Philippine government at the appropriate time.
“No such announcement on the Pax Silica Economic Security Zone was ever planned,” said Lipton.
“As stated previously and as part of this process, we expect rigorous discussions on impacts to all stakeholders,” he added.
The US envoy said they are looking forward to working with the Philippines for the initiative, which he claims is set to “secure supply chains and attract quality investment in support of economic growth and jobs at home for the Filipino people.”
Pax Silica is a proposed 4,000-acre semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) hub set to be built in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
The government said the proposed project will generate jobs; however, critics argued that the initiative may displace the Aeta community, as the land where the hub is set to rise is within the group’s ancestral domains.
“I cannot see how such a development will endanger local livelihood. I’m not sure I understand the question simply because this is quite big; this is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously during a press briefing.
Malacañang said it is only awaiting the US’ response, after the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) — which oversees the project locally — said they already submitted the proposal to Marcos.
“The BCDA has met with the Office of the President — through the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) — regarding a memorandum submitted jointly with the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). Guidance has been provided for the BCDA to follow during the negotiations and the finalization of the framework arrangement with the US counterpart,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in Filipino during a press briefing on Nov. 4, quoting the BCDA.
Responding to criticisms of possible displacement, Castro said the government will ensure that if displacements occur, they will provide assistance.
“Of course, financial assistance will certainly be provided should anyone actually end up being displaced,” said Castro.
The Palace press officer also clarified that out of the massive land area — spanning over 6,000 hectares of land — only a designated “buildable zone” of roughly 3,000-plus hectares constitutes the actual construction area.
“If they (locals) are located within the buildable zone, they will not be left to fend for themselves or lose their place to live,” Castro assured the locals.
Preparations in full swing
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the government is ensuring that all systems are in place for the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Asean Leaders’ Summit on Nov. 15 to 17.
As chair of the Asean National Organizing Council (NOC), Recto inspected the preparations for the summit by ensuring that directives of President Marcos are carried out before the chief executive’s inspection at the newly refurbished Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
With only nine days left before the big event, the country is expected to welcome more than 20 leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
“With 20 heads of state in attendance, this is a meeting with a million moving parts, from convoys to conferences, from agenda to attractions to be visited, and from security to seat plans, so failure on our part is not an option,” Recto said previously on a social media post.
He added that with a long checklist of things that need to be accomplished, the government has ticked most of them, which includes the heightened security protocols within the vicinity of the venue.
Previously, the government had directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that security measures are in place.
Recto urged the organizing committee to maintain that same dedication for the remaining meetings left under the Philippines’ chairmanship.
“One measure of the success of our Asean hosting is the benefit it brings to our people,” Recto said in Filipino.
