Science, Tech Groups Oppose Philippines-US Pax Silica Deal

A coalition of science and technology groups in the Philippines opposes the Pax Silica agreement with the United States, according to a Rappler report. The coalition, known as Scientists and Technologists Oppose the US War, includes Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, AGHAM Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, and Computer Professionals Union.

The groups relaunched the coalition, originally formed in the 2000s, to address the agreement. The coalition held a forum on April 28, 2026, where Ana Celestial, programs officer at Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, discussed the agreement's implications.

Celestial stated that the Philippines ranks third globally in gold deposits, fourth in copper, fifth in nickel, and sixth in chromite. She noted the country holds an estimated $170 billion in nickel deposits and has surveyed four types of rare earth metals: scandium, neodymium, cerium, and lanthanum, in areas including Palawan, Samar, Surigao, and Zambales.

explained that these rare earth metals are used in high-tech electronics, semiconductors, and data centers. Scandium is used in durable alloys for aerospace structures like aircraft fuselages and fuel tanks. Neodymium is used in permanent magnets for wind turbines, electric vehicles, earphones, hard drives, and phone vibration mechanisms.

Cerium is applied in polishing glass screens, camera lenses, and silicon wafers, as well as in aerospace alloys. Lanthanum is used in camera lenses and rechargeable batteries for hybrid engines. Celestial stated that these materials can also have dual uses in military equipment, such as F-35 jets, navy destroyer ships, and laser-guided missile systems.

stated that the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 has not led to technology transfer or local capacity building in mining. She said foreign corporations extract ore without sharing advanced processes or training local engineers to build heavy machinery.

Instead, the industry remains export-oriented, shipping raw or simply processed minerals. The coalition expressed concerns about social costs, particularly for indigenous populations. Celestial stated that approximately 72 to 75% of mining permit applications in 2024 were within ancestral domains, potentially leading to displacement and militarization.

She also noted that increased mining demand could affect watersheds and natural geography.

Gilberto Teodoro Jr. stated that Pax Silica complements defense relations between the Philippines and the United States. The agreement includes development of a 4,000-acre Economic Security Zone in New Clark City, near former U.S. military bases. This zone will include ammunition hubs and operate under U.S. common law with diplomatic immunity.

Celestial questioned whether labor protections for Filipino workers would be upheld in the zone. The coalition views the deal as part of broader U.S. military programs in the region.