Philippines joins US‑led Pax Silica coalition to secure rare‑earth and semiconductor supply chain

In April 2026 the Philippines became the latest signatory to Pax Silica, a US‑led coalition of nine (now twelve) nations created to reduce reliance on Chinese rare‑earths and to build resilient supply chains for advanced chips, AI infrastructure and related minerals. The alliance includes the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and later Finland, Sweden, Qatar and India. The Philippines contributes significant reserves of nickel, copper, chromite and cobalt and a semiconductor assembly sector that generated about US$39 billion in 2024. A centerpiece of its participation is a planned 4,000‑acre industrial hub at New Clark City in Tarlac, projected to draw $40‑70 billion in investment and create more than 130,000 jobs.

St. Scholastica’s Academy in San Fernando, Pampanga, has called for a temporary halt to the project until full transparency on environmental, social and governance impacts is provided. The school noted the absence of a publicly released Environmental Impact Assessment, unclear water and energy requirements, and the lack of detailed maps despite Freedom of Information requests. It warned that data‑center and AI‑related infrastructure can place heavy demands on local water quality and electricity, urging meaningful public participation before committing thousands of hectares of land.