Sen. Raffy Tulfo , chairperson of Senate panel on environment, natural resources and climate change | Photo courtesy of Senate OS Raffy Tulfo
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change, raised concerns on Tuesday regarding the proposed Pax Silica semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) hub, pushing for a formal Senate inquiry into the project.
During a privilege speech, Tulfo insisted that the development of Pax Silica must not compromise local resources, the environment, farmers’ livelihoods, or the communities and ancestral lands of indigenous peoples.
“When economic activity comes at the expense of safe water, clean air, livelihood, workers’ health, and the safety of the surrounding communities, We must ask: Sino ang umaasenso, at sino naman ang nagbabayad ng presyo ng pag-asenso ng iilan?” Tulfo began.
(When economic activity comes at the expense of safe water, clean air, livelihood, workers’ health, and the safety of the surrounding communities, we must ask: Who is advancing, and who is paying the price of the advancement of the few?)
