During the past week, I heard one expert argue that Filipinos should give Pax Silica a chance because of its promise of industrialization and economic growth.
It’s a fair argument. The Philippines could use industrialization. We need better jobs, stronger technological capabilities, and a larger role in the global semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries where we currently participate in the lower rungs of assembly, testing and packaging.
But I would disagree with the suggestion that we should tone down the level of scrutiny, especially when this matter — and it’s no small one by geographical measure alone — feels like it’s moving at remarkable speed.
Since I began writing this piece, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) walked back its initial statements on data centers being part of Pax Silica, saying that the site will not host data centers after all, but semiconductor and advanced manufacturing facilities.
Among other things, it reinforces a broader point: public scrutiny works.
