Philippines-US Pax Silica deal on track for signing by year-end, says DTI
The Philippines and the United States remain on track to finalise the master agreement for the Pax Silica advanced manufacturing hub by the end of 2026, despite no announcement during President Trump's visit for the ASEAN Summit. Trade officials said the deal will have its own dedicated signing cere
The Philippines and the United States remain on track to finalise the master agreement for the Pax Silica initiative by the end of this year, even though no announcement will be made during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Manila for the ASEAN Summit this month. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said both sides want the controversial project to have its own dedicated moment once the agreement is ready for signing.
“While there will be no announcement during the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Marcos, this is simply a matter of timing,” Mr Rodolfo told reporters on the sidelines of the Fourth ASEAN Investment Forum on Tuesday. “With ASEAN, APEC, and several major initiatives occurring in close succession, we felt it would be better for the advanced manufacturing hub to have its own moment rather than compete within an already crowded diplomatic agenda.”
Signing the Pax Silica agreement during the ASEAN Summit might remove attention from the regional bloc’s initiatives, Mr Rodolfo said. “Other key regional diplomatic and geopolitical initiatives deserve the dedication they merit, particularly given the unique visibility that only an ASEAN summit provides.” He added that the government wants to organise a separate ceremony for signing the master agreement under Pax Silica.
Despite no announcement on the Pax Silica hub next week, Mr Rodolfo said no substantial disagreements are stopping Manila and Washington from finalising the master agreement. “I think we’re still on track towards having an agreement by the end of this year. If we’re able to do that, then the timeline for the two-year development period, masterplanning and everything, is still on track.”
US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton on Saturday said there will be no announcement relating to the proposed Pax Silica hub during and after the ASEAN Summit. Earlier, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang had said that both sides were looking to have the agreement signed during the summit. Mr Rodolfo clarified that growing opposition against the Pax Silica hub is not a factor in the timing. “That has always been part of the equation, that there should be consultations, and there should be more communication efforts with the affected stakeholders.”
Manila and Washington are developing a 1,619-hectare artificial intelligence-native industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, with groundbreaking planned in two years. It is the flagship project under the Philippines’ participation in Pax Silica, a US-led alliance linking supply chains for AI, semiconductors, and critical minerals. The BCDA will serve as the Philippine signatory to the agreement, which will also be signed by its American counterpart.
