Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian described the proposed Pax Silica initiative as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for the Philippines, saying it could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive a major industrial transformation, while stressing that environmental and legal concerns must first be fully addressed.
Speaking during the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change hearing chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo on Friday, Gatchalian said the country risks losing the investment if it fails to seize the opportunity.
“Kung hindi ito papasok sa ating bansa, sigurado po ako papasok 'to sa Vietnam, papasok 'to sa Thailand, sa Indonesia. Ibang bansa ay tatanggapin 'to,” Gatchalian said.
He noted that the proposed project could create nearly 200,000 direct jobs, generate up to 800,000 jobs during the construction phase, and attract around $70 billion in investments, which he said would provide a significant boost to the country's long-term economic growth.
Gatchalian also described the initiative as a potential industry shift comparable to the rise of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector in the 1990s. He warned that artificial intelligence could eventually replace many entry-level and low-value BPO jobs, making it crucial for the Philippines to develop new high-value industries.
“Ako personally sinusuportahan ko itong Pax Silica pero marami rin po kong kondisyon at caveats,” he said.
The Senate President emphasized that the project must strictly comply with the Constitution and Philippine laws, adding that there should be “no compromise” on national sovereignty.
He also identified several key issues that must be resolved before the project proceeds, including water supply, electricity capacity, the protection of indigenous peoples and farmers from displacement, and ensuring meaningful technology transfer.
“Hindi po natin pwedeng payagan na mawalan ng trabaho ang ating mga magsasaka. Hindi po natin pwedeng payagan na ma-displace o matanggal po sa kanilang lugar ang ating mga katutubo,” Gatchalian said.
He further stressed that the country should gain long-term technological expertise from the project, particularly for young Filipinos, and said the initiative could help transform the Philippines' semiconductor industry from a low-value exporter into a high-value manufacturing hub.
The Senate hearing examined the proposed Pax Silica project, balancing its potential to accelerate high-tech industrialization against concerns over water demand, energy supply, land ownership, sovereignty, mineral-processing waste, and the possible displacement of indigenous communities and farmers. Lawmakers also discussed the need for stronger government oversight to ensure economic development is pursued alongside environmental protection and community rights.
