MANILA, Philippines -- Minority bloc members at the House of Representatives, led by Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice and Mamamayan Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, pushed for a congressional inquiry into the Pax Silica Agreement.
Erice, interviewed by The Manila Times via Viber, said it would be vital for Congress to thoroughly examine the implications for national sovereignty, security, AI (artificial intelligence) governance, and critical digital infrastructure.
With Philreca Rep. Presley de Jesus, Albay 1st District Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman, Kamanggagawa Rep. Elijah San Fernando and de Lima, Erice said they filed a resolution that would direct the appropriate House committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the Pax Silica Agreement and its implementation.
The Caloocan legislator reiterated that the proposed inquiry sought to assess the agreement's implications for national sovereignty, national security, data governance, environmental protection, economic security, and the adequacy of existing Philippine laws governing artificial intelligence, strategic digital infrastructure, and foreign participation in critical industries.
The resolution was not intended to discourage investments, but rather to ensure that projects of national significance were carried out with full transparency, accountability, and robust safeguards for the Filipino people, Erice said.
While it was natural for the Philippines to welcome investments that generate employment, drive innovation, and reinforce its standing in emerging technologies, Erice stressed that Congress has a constitutional obligation to ascertain that projects of this scale were “economically viable, fiscally responsible, environmentally sustainable, legally transparent, and genuinely beneficial to Filipinos."
“The inquiry aims to verify whether sufficient legal and regulatory safeguards are in place prior to the full implementation of large-scale strategic projects,” according to the Caloocan lawmaker.
The key issues that must be examined include the total projected public and private investments and the extent of firm financial commitments; government incentives and expected returns on public investment; ownership, operation, and control of strategic infrastructure; national security, cybersecurity, and data governance safeguards; and adequacy of power and water resources without adversely affecting existing consumers.
He said the proposed measure also sought to examine the agreement especially its environmental impacts and sustainability measures; technology transfer commitments and development of Filipino expertise; employment opportunities for Filipinos across all skill levels; participation of local enterprises in the project supply chain; and measurable public benefits and accountability mechanisms over the project's lifespan.
It further seeks to determine whether current Philippine laws remain adequate to govern rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and strategic digital infrastructure, or whether legislative reforms are necessary, Erice pointed out.
The minority lawmakers cited Congress’ essential oversight role in ensuring that investments in critical industries serve the country's long-term national interest.
"Support for investments of this scale must be anchored on transparency, independent technical validation, legal accountability, and measurable public benefits. Economic growth and innovation must be pursued in ways that protect our sovereignty, strengthen national security, and secure lasting benefits for future generations," said Erice, echoing his fellow bloc members’ views.
Erice said they were confident that the proposed inquiry would yield a comprehensive, fact-based assessment to guide future legislation and public policy on artificial intelligence, strategic infrastructure, and foreign investments in critical sectors.
