MANILA — The Philippines and the United States are pushing to sign the proposed Pax Silica agreement before the end of 2026, paving the way for a two-year development program aimed at establishing a high-technology manufacturing and mineral processing hub in New Clark City, Tarlac.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said Tuesday that negotiations remained on schedule despite the absence of a planned announcement during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which US President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
“I think we’re still on track towards having an agreement by the end of this year,” Rodolfo told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Investment Summit in Makati City.
His statement followed US Ambassador Lee Lipton’s clarification that no Pax Silica announcement had been scheduled during the regional gathering.
Rodolfo said the government wanted to give ASEAN initiatives undivided attention, stressing that the proposed bilateral agreement deserved a separate occasion.
“There are so many things that are happening in terms of the ASEAN. It’s a full-packed diplomatic and political agenda happening in succession. So we do not want to compete in that space. We would like the regional initiatives to be given the attention that they so richly deserve,” he said.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) earlier acknowledged that no definite signing date had been set despite an initial November target.
Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro also disclosed last month that BCDA had submitted the proposed legal framework to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Rodolfo said securing the agreement by December would keep the project’s two-year development timetable, including master planning, on track.
The proposed framework is also expected to include safeguards protecting Philippine sovereignty over the New Clark City development, including provisions denying diplomatic immunity to foreign personnel working within the hub.
Launched in April, Pax Silica is a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening supply chains for critical minerals and advanced technologies among partner countries.
The proposed Philippine hub would focus on mineral processing and manufacturing high-technology components for artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries.
Officials have clarified that the project will not include data centers./PN
