ASEAN HEADLINE-48TH ASEAN SUMMIT PHILIPPINES 2026 | MANILA: No Pax Silica announcement at Asean Summit – US envoy
SHARED SACRIFICES American Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton speaks during the Veterans Day ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery in Taguig City on Saturday. He is joined by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (right photo) in wreath-laying rites. —PHOTOS BY GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
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WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v85tQZGcH1I
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Palace hints Pax Silica to be signed at ASEAN Summit
Malacañang hinted that the draft framework for the proposed U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative may be signed during the ASEAN Summit. Palace press officer Claire Castro noted that the Philippines is still awaiting the response of the U.S. to the draft agreement. The Palace previously confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the ASEAN Summit. This fueled rumors that the Pax Silica initiative may be signed during the summit. Castro was also asked whether the framework includes concerns about possible displacement. She said the government will ensure that if displacements occur, the government will provide assistance.
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The American ambassador has dismissed talk that a major announcement on the US-led Pax Silica project would be made “during or after” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, which US President Donald Trump was expected to attend later this month.
“No such announcement on the Pax Silica Economic Security Zone was ever planned,” Ambassador Lee Lipton said in a statement posted on X on Saturday to “address comments in the media.”
READ: US envoy: No Pax Silica announcement planned at Asean summit
“Decisions will be made in full consultation with the government of the Philippines at the appropriate time,” he said.
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Lipton added that the process would include “rigorous discussions” on the initiative’s potential impact on stakeholders.
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Framework agreement
Joshua Bingcang, president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), earlier said that the signing of a “framework agreement” for Pax Silica could be among the major announcements during the summit.
The White House and the Philippine government last month separately confirmed Trump’s attendance at the summit where he planned to hold talks with regional leaders.
Bingcang told the Inquirer in June that the BCDA and the US Department of State were working on a proposed framework agreement, which would deal with the legal, commercial and other issues related to developing the Pax Silica industrial enclave inside New Clark City.
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Palace press officer Claire Castro said this week that the agreement had not yet been finalized.
READ: PH awaits US reply on Pax Silica deal as Trump arrival nears
Asked whether it could be signed during the Asean Summit, Castro said the government would see whether negotiations could be expedited.
Bingcang earlier said the BCDA was targeting the signing of the agreement by November but acknowledged that no definite date had been set.
The Philippines joined Pax Silica in April as the 13th participant in the US-led global coalition to secure supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing. The group now has over 30 countries.
Manila has identified a 1,619-hectare site in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, for the proposed high-technology hub.
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Luzon Economic Corridor
The proposed hub would be part of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), an infrastructure and investment initiative involving the Philippines, the United States and Japan.
Pax Silica would serve as one of the LEC’s “priority nodes,” where it could host critical mineral processing, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, and AI.
The LEC aims to link Subic Bay, Clark, Metro Manila and Batangas into a single, internationally competitive economic corridor with rail, port and airport infrastructure, which would also help decongest Manila.
The BCDA estimated that the Pax Silica hub could attract $40 billion to $70 billion in investments and generate between 130,000 and 190,000 direct jobs over several decades.
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It has identified major technology companies, including Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., as potential investors, although no firm commitments have been announced.
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Warning from UP study
The project has drawn concerns from farmers, indigenous communities and environmental groups over possible displacement, its demand for water and electricity, and its environmental impact.
A discussion paper by the University of the Philippines (UP) Center for Integrative and Development Studies said that attracting major technology companies would not necessarily translate into technological advancement for the country.
The study warned that the Philippines could remain largely a manufacturing base for multinational companies while higher-value activities, including research and design, continued to be carried out overseas.
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It stressed the need for stronger domestic technological capabilities to ensure that the country would benefit from the proposed investments.
On Wednesday, Malacañang said the BCDA was awaiting Washington’s response to a draft framework agreement following consultations with the Office of the President and the Department of Trade and Industry.
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Summit preparations
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Philippine officials said that the government had wrapped up “95 percent” of the preparations for the Nov. 15 to Nov. 17 Asean Summit—the 49th to be held by the 11-member regional bloc.
Asean Director General for Operations Hellen De La Vega said the government had conducted multiple simulation exercises to prepare for different scenarios ahead of holding a secure and peaceful summit.
“I am reserving the remaining 5 percent for natural events or calamities, because these things are [forces] of nature,” she said.
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According to De La Vega, the organizers had already taken weather conditions into account, as forecasts indicated that November could be relatively hot.
The government and the private sectors involved have “seamless coordination,” she said.
The main venue for the summit will be the newly renovated Philippine International Convention Center, while other events will be held at Coconut Palace and Conrad Manila.
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3 nonworking holidays
The International Media Center will be located at the World Trade Center, also in Pasay City.
“This is really a golden opportunity for us to showcase our country,” De La Vega said, adding that the Philippines should continue improving its track record in hosting international meetings.
The summit is expected to draw not only heads of state and other officials, but also international media, business representatives, investors, academics, social scientists and philanthropists.
President Marcos declared Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, as special nonworking days in the National Capital Region to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure the safety and security of participants during the summit.
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Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and other high-ranking government officials on Friday inspected the preparations for the Asean Summit, with the Philippines expecting more than 20 world leaders and other guests to attend the regional gathering. —WITH REPORTS FROM DEXTER CABALZA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
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