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ASEANEWS HEADLINE-5th SONA 2026 | MANILA: Marcos brings up controversial Pax Silica during SONA

July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 Contributor 0 Comment ASEANEWS HEADLINE-SONA 2026 | MANILA: Marcos brings up controversial Pax Silica during SONA

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (L), Speaker of the House Faustino Dy (R) and attendees react after Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (C) delivered his speech during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 27, 2026. / AFP / Jam Sta Rosa

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDKswIuaOkM

LIVE SONA 2026 | Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (July 27, 2026)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress, outlining the administration’s accomplishments, economic priorities, infrastructure projects, social programs, foreign policy, and legislative agenda for the coming year.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa on July 27, 2026. (Mark Balmores)

.For the first time, President Marcos has spoken about the US-led Pax Silica initiative amid growing opposition.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, Marcos touted the proposed industrial hub, saying it would be a “center in the global AI and technology value chain.”

The President was talking about venturing into various areas, even the unimaginable when he mentioned about Pax Silica.

“We continue to strive for bigger and greater things, venturing into areas heretofore unimaginable.

That is, strategic and emerging industries that position our country in the global value-chain, such as in the fields of pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, luxury goods, technology, and logistics,” Marcos said.

Pax Silica Explained for Investors. Which Philippine Sectors Actually Win

For most of modern history, the industries that determined which countries got rich were built on oil and steel. That era is ending. The industries that will define the next fifty years run on compute, semiconductors, and the minerals that feed them, and in April 2026 the Philippines was formally placed on that map with a commitment of 4,000 acres in New Clark City, Tarlac.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Jq4fgHpbc

He then went on to speak about the highly-contested Pax Silica as among the emerging industries the Philippines is striving for.

“Additionally, a product of the 23-member strong and US-led Pax Silica Initiative, the Pax Silica Industrial Hub will create an eco-system that will have AI at its core,” Marcos said in his one hour and 26 minutes speech.

“It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy,” the President added.

“As a strategic component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, the hub will be an advanced manufacturing and logistics center in the global AI and technology value chain,” he further said.

Marcos’ statement came as a response to the opposition the controversial project has been receiving.

Pax Silica Industrial Hub is planned to be developed on a stretch of land the size of roughly 1,620 hectares inside New Clark City, Tarlac.

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Th Philippines joined the US-led international coalition launched in December 2025 to secure supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence technologies.

The project has been steadily opposed by coalition of farmer groups, environmental scientists and advocates, raising various concerns such as mass displacement, water scarcity, mining expansion and pollution, food security, economic dependency, and sovereignty and legal jurisdiction.