PH-US ‘Pax Silica’ hub not war-driven but for industrialization —Teodoro

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday rejected claims that the proposed United States-backed Pax Silica hub in the Philippines is a war-driven initiative.

In an ambush interview, Teodoro said the project aims to boost the Philippines' resilience and long-term industrialization.

“It is definitely not a war-driven imposition. It is a resilience imposition. Kung pag-aaralan natin yang Pax Silica na ‘yan, it is a manufacturing and high technology endeavor,” Teodoro said.

(It is definitely not a war-driven imposition. It is a resilience imposition. If we study Pax Silica, it is a manufacturing and high technology endeavor.)

“So kung saan nga nakukuha yung idea na war-driven imposition, kalokohan yun,” he added.

(So where does the idea of war-driven imposition come from, that's nonsense.)

On April 17, the US State Department said Manila and Washington are set to establish an industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), designated as an Economic Security Zone, to strengthen supply chains for critical materials.

According to Teodoro, the initiative seeks to ensure stable supply chains for critical materials and position the Philippines within the global manufacturing cycle.

This effort has long been discussed but not fully realized, he added.

Teodoro pointed out that the country has abundant raw materials, particularly critical minerals, that could support such industrial ventures but there was opposition to mining projects.

For the Defense chief, the initiative could generate economic benefits, including jobs and increased revenue, while reducing dependence on imported goods.

“As far as I know, wala pa namang firm documents ito (there is no firm document for this yet). It’s an expression of interest only and the country is still have to thresh it out,” Teodoro said. —VAL, GMA News