Senator Hontiveros seeks Senate probe on Pax Silica's impact on workers, communities

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the potential impact of the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub, particularly its possible effects on workers, local communities, and the broader economy.

Under Proposed Senate Resolution No. 563, Hontiveros sought an investigation, in aid of legislation, to determine whether the US-led initiative and its affiliated projects would fulfill their promised economic benefits without displacing communities or jeopardizing Filipino livelihoods.

The resolution states that "there is a need to thoroughly assess the community, regional and national economic impact of the Pax Silica Initiative and all affiliated projects, and verify if the initiative will truly serve the economic interests of Filipinos—both at the macro and grassroots levels."

Pax Silica aims to attract large-scale investments, position the Philippines as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies, and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. During his 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the initiative would "bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy."

Despite these projections, Hontiveros said lawmakers should carefully examine the project's possible social and economic costs. She expressed concern over reports that Aeta and farming communities within and around the proposed 4,000-acre site in the Luzon Economic Corridor could be relocated.

"News reports and warnings by advocacy groups point to the looming displacement and disruption to the livelihood of people living within and outside the project area—with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority itself reportedly preparing relocation and employment opportunities for Aeta and farmer communities," the resolution read.

The senator also questioned the long-term employment prospects tied to the project, noting that while the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) estimates Pax Silica could generate up to 190,000 direct jobs and 800,000 indirect and induced jobs, workers hired to develop artificial intelligence systems could eventually be replaced by the same technology.

"Unemployment and underemployment persist as structural conditions of the Philippine labor market, and the prospect is real that Filipino workers will be engaged to develop and train the very artificial intelligence systems that may in time displace them from their occupations," the resolution read.

"We cannot evaluate an investment based on its headline value alone. The Philippines needs capital with purpose—investment that creates decent jobs, strengthens local industries, protects communities and the environment, and safeguards our digital security and national sovereignty," it added.