Marcos, Rubio discuss Pax Silica project — PH envoy to US

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the Pax Silica initiative during the latter’s visit to Manila for a series of ministerial meetings, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Wednesday.

“Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor are two of the main points that President Marcos has expressed. Well, I wouldn’t say gratitude, but he’s very pleased that it’s moving quickly and that will definitely help the Philippine economy,” Romualdez told reporters.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said the United States has placed Pax Silica-related activities in the Philippines among its top economic priorities.

Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.

The Philippines officially joined the Pax Silica initiative in April, along with 22 other signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

The US-led Pax Silica initiative, however, has drawn concerns over sovereignty, land use and its environmental and geopolitical implications.

The DOF earlier said it was laying the legal and operational groundwork for the implementation of the Pax Silica initiative in the Philippines. — MCG, GMA News