SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES — The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has launched a scathing critique of the Philippine government’s commitment to “Pax Silica,” a U.S.-led multinational initiative designed to secure supply chains for critical minerals and advanced electronics. The group described the move as a “massive sellout” of the country’s sovereignty, land, and natural resources.
The protest centers on a proposed 1,619-hectare economic security zone within the Luzon Economic Corridor, which the KMP claims will prioritize foreign industrial needs over local food security and environmental safety.
Pax Silica is a “flagship effort” spearheaded by the U.S. International Trade Administration. Its goal is to establish integrated, secure supply chains among partner nations for strategic technologies, including:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Semiconductors
- Critical Minerals (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, etc.)
- Advanced Electronics for both civilian and defense use.
The Philippines officially became the 13th member nation of Pax Silica on April 17, 2026, joining countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The farmers’ group argues that the initiative creates a dangerous precedent for rural and ancestral lands:
- “War Production” Disguised as Development: The KMP alleges that the electronics and semiconductors produced will have “dual-use” applications, essentially making the Philippines a hub for the U.S. defense industry (missiles, drones, surveillance).
- Environmental Destruction: The group fears a massive expansion of large-scale mining in provinces like Zambales, Palawan, and Nueva Vizcaya, leading to soil and groundwater contamination similar to historical issues seen in former U.S. bases like Clark and Subic.
- Threat to Food Security: Converting over 1,600 hectares of agricultural land (rice and coconut farms) into industrial corridors could displace local farmers and destabilize the national food supply.
- Economic Disparity: Critics warn the Philippines will be relegated to low-value processing roles (assembly, testing, and packaging) while foreign firms retain control of high-value technology and profits.
The project is a core component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, launched in 2024 to modernize logistics and industrial networks across the country’s largest island. While the government views this as a path toward high-tech industrialization and job creation, the KMP views it as a move that “integrates the country into supply chains led by the United States” at the expense of local autonomy.
The KMP has called on affected communities and fellow agricultural workers to oppose the project, stating, “There is no doubt that Pax Silica is really meant for the US war effort… It opens our mountains and ancestral lands to industries that serve foreigners rather than the Filipino people.”