It was about six months ago when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed for the country’s participation as the 13th signatory and key player in the US Pax Silica initiative. But nothing concrete seems to have been accomplished more than just that since then.
Beside from drawing immediate opposition from self-styled nationalists, environmental activists and security experts, the government agencies that are supposedly involved in the program seem to be not in synch, much less organized, as to what they should be doing to make things happen — an awkward situation that became glaringly evident from a legislative inquiry made on the matter. This situation could also well explain why the general public is now even more confused than enlightened as to what exactly it is all about, what are at stake, and what is in it for the country to be a key player.
It also appears that this lack of coordination among the government agencies involved in the international initiative and coalition framework appears to be contributing more to the confusion of the general public than the disinformation campaign sowed against Pax Silica by the vociferous individuals and interest groups regarded as nothing but China’s puppies by the silent majority who actually form the true backbone of the country.
