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Capas-born actor Brent Manalo has doubled down on his opposition to the proposed Pax Silica initiative, emphasizing that his identity as a native of Tarlac compelled him to speak out and protect his home province.
Reflecting on his decision to raise awareness, the actor revealed that he immediately took the time to research the project after first learning about it a couple of weeks ago. While acknowledging that the development comes with possible benefits, he ultimately found that the risks far exceed the advantages.
"Ako syempre, Tarlaqueño talaga ako, so once narinig ko 'to, I think a couple of weeks ago ko siya unang nalaman, I really did my research. May mga pros siya, but then, I think the pros were outweighed by the cons," Manalo shared with radar Entertainment during the media launch of his stage play “The Art of Breaking Up,” which is slated in November.
For the actor, raising his voice against the project is both a civic duty and a personal responsibility to safeguard Tarlac's natural beauty and agricultural heritage from potential harm.
"As a Tarlaqueño, you have to use your voice. It’s such a beautiful province na pwedeng masira because of this project. So I think I have to do my part as a Filipino and as a Tarlakenyo," he added.
Manalo’s recent remarks come after his earlier post on X, where he flagged possible displacement among agricultural workers tied to the planned 1.6k-hectare AI and tech hub in New Clark City. The project is part of a US-led initiative that aims to build a “secure” and “innovation-driven” silicon and nickel supply chain—an area where the Philippines plays a major role, accounting for 95 percent of global nickel ore exports, based on 2025 data from the Philippine Nickel Industry Association.
He pointed out that Tarlac has long depended on agriculture, and raised concerns that farmers could lose not just their land, but their main source of income. For him, the bigger question is simple: are these kinds of developments worth the cost?
His stance echoes concerns from various groups, including environmental advocates, civil society organizations, and farmers, who have been sounding the alarm over possible land displacement, environmental damage, and even issues tied to national sovereignty.
One of them, the Institute for Nationalist Studies, has gone as far as calling for the project’s outright rejection. The group claimed that the Philippine government is offering land and natural resources to the United States rent-free.
"Under the guise of integration into global supply chains, Pax Silica is another false promise of technological development for the Philippines, while the US and its allies keep Filipino workers toiling at the most labor-intensive part of production," it said.
As the conversation continues online, the debate has grown into a larger one: how to balance progress and innovation with the welfare of local communities. For now, Manalo remains among the public figures using their platform to keep that conversation going, especially for those who might be directly affected.
(✍️🎥: Rafael Asonza)
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