Mongabay · Climate & nature

Philippines Tech Hub Faces Opposition

A U.S.-backed initiative for a semiconductor and AI supply chain hub in the Philippines, Pax Silica, faces opposition over environmental and Indigenous land concerns.

The planned 1,620-hectare hub overlaps with ancestral lands of the Indigenous Aeta people. Protesters also cite concerns about water, energy, and waste management.

Demonstrations occurred outside an investors' forum, with activists reporting injuries and arrests. Protesters call it a land and resource grab driven by U.S. AI ambitions.

Officials state Pax Silica will boost the economy, but project details remain scarce. The hub requires an estimated 3 gigawatts of energy, with plans for solar power.

Concerns exist about the substantial daily water consumption and its impact during the dry season. Waste management plans for potential mineral processing are also undisclosed.

The Aeta people claim the land as ancestral domain but face bureaucratic hurdles for formal titles. Elders state they are being informed to vacate the land.

While Aeta land claims face delays, foreign businesses can lease land for up to 99 years. Protests continue as the project moves forward.

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