Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attended an investors’ forum on September 10 to promote the Luzon Economic Corridor, an economic development initiative launched in 2024. The event drew hundreds of demonstrators opposing Pax Silica, a U.S.-led global initiative to build an artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chain independent of China. Police reportedly used riot shields and batons against protesters, with activists claiming at least 27 injuries and five arrests, while authorities reported 16 personnel sustained minor injuries.
The Pax Silica component involves constructing a 4,000-acre high-tech manufacturing hub in Central Luzon, announced jointly by Washington and Manila in April. The facility will be situated within New Clark City, a government-planned smart city in the broader Clark area, a former U.S. military complex. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Manila in July to reaffirm commitment to the project, with a final agreement scheduled for signing in November. Philippine officials characterize it as an economic opportunity, though details remain limited ahead of finalization.
Government authorities estimate the facility would require approximately 3 gigawatts of energy, sourced primarily through solar panels, and consume 16 to 24 million gallons of water daily from rainwater collection via an impounding dam. The infrastructure may also include mineral processing technology and data centers, though officials have provided conflicting statements about data center inclusion. Critics, including scientists and environmental advocates, have raised concerns about resource allocation, particularly during the Philippines’ dry season from December through May when farmers require irrigation water, and about potential waste management from mineral processing operations.
The project site overlaps with ancestral domain claims of thousands of Aetas, Indigenous peoples considered among the earliest settlers in the Philippine archipelago. The Clark area served as a U.S. military base from 1903 through 1991, when it transferred to Philippine government control. Opponents argue the initiative represents a resource appropriation driven by U.S. technological ambitions, while supporters maintain it offers economic benefits and positions the Philippines as a global technology player.
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