Groups hold anti-Pax Silica protest in Angeles City

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — “Philippines not for sale! Uncle Sam go away!”

Protesters repeatedly shouted those words as they marched along the road to Clark Freeport Zone at Barangay Balibago in Angeles City on Friday.

Holding banners demanding the rejection of Pax Silica, the protesters held a short program in front of the former United States military base, citing the 1,600-hectare project’s impact on farmers, indigenous tribes, the environment, and sovereignty.

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The mass action obstructed traffic flow for several kilometers here and in Angeles City.

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READ: 5 arrested at Taguig City rally decrying Pax Silica — rights group

The Bayan Muna Partylist Group, which joined the march, said on its social media page that the US-led supply chain project at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, would not lead to progress.

“Hindi ito ‘development.’ Ito’y US-led na proyekto para sa semiconductor, AI, at critical minerals sa New Clark City—sa lupang tahanan at hanapbuhay ng mga magsasaka at komunidad ng Aeta. Tinutuligsa ng taumbayan ang pagpapalayas, pagkaubos ng tubig, pagkasira ng kalikasan, at paggamit ng lupain at yaman ng bansa para sa dayuhang interes,” it said.

(This is not ‘development.’ It is a US-led project for semiconductors, AI, and critical minerals in New Clark City—on land that serves as home and source of livelihood for farmers and Aeta communities. The people condemn the displacement, water depletion, environmental destruction, and the use of the country’s land and resources for foreign interests.)

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What the Philippines needs is land, usable water, and livelihood for the people, not Pax Silica and similar foreign investments, the group said. 

READ: Senate committee of the whole set to tackle Pax Silica project

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The protesters later boarded their vehicles parked along Bayanihan Park and MacArthur Highway and proceeded to Capas town in Tarlac to continue their mass action.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Gitnang Luzon said on its social media page that the anti-Pax Silica caravan was held as a response to the September 11 Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum organized by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. 

“Kabilang ang Pax Silica sa mga proyektong itinutulak sa ilalim ng Luzon Economic Corridor. Nagbubukas ito ng mga usapin hinggil sa paggamit ng lupa, likas-yaman, kalikasan, at kabuhayan ng mga komunidad na maaaring maapektuhan ng mga naturang proyekto,” it said.

READ: Gov’t holding census in areas Pax Silica hub may affect

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(Pax Silica is among the projects being advanced under the Luzon Economic Corridor. It raises issues regarding land use, natural resources, the environment, and the livelihoods of communities that could be affected by such projects.)/coa