Educators, students forge unity statement vs Pax Silica, Trump

MANILA, Philippines — Students, professors and personnel revealed opposition to the US-led Pax Silica effort in a signature project in Quezon City on Thursday.

The occasion at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani was the finalizing of the Schools and Colleges Resist the Aggression and Plunder of Pax Silica (SCRAP Pax Silica) which Michael Pante, lead initiator, stated was a unity declaration created by more than 500 college deans, professors regents, and union presidents “to show our strong objection to Pax Silica.”

Noteworthy signatories consist of 11 deans and directors from various institutes and colleges of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in addition to UP professors and trainees, Ateneo de Manila University, and Philippine Normal University.

Pante stated instructors’ groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Manila Public School Teachers’ Association were likewise signatories.

Dr. Ramon Guillermo, among SCRAP Pax Silica lead initiators, mentioned the requirement for real country advancement, independent from the United States.

“The Philippines will just be a pawn of the US’ technological war with China. Our resources will be syphoned off to create technologies that Filipinos will not directly benefit from,” Guillermo said.

“National industrialization is the only way for the Philippines to escape poverty and its dependence on the US,” he mentioned.

Ruby Bernardo, ACT head, stressed the requirement for instructors and teachers to oppose Pax Silica.

Educators and teachers need to assist enhance the call for justice and responsibility for the Aetas and farmers being dispossessed due to the fact that of Pax Silica, Bernardo stated.

“If Pax Silica is really for the advantage of the Philippines, why must individuals suffer? ACT needs that the Aetas and farmers be safeguarded from this unfair landgrab,” Bernardo stated.
SCRAP Pax Silica revealed that the alliance would sign up with the demonstrations versus United States President Donald Trump’s check out in connection with the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on Nov. 16– 18, 2026.

The groups also condemned the displacement of the Aeta Hanguey from their ancestral domain in Capas, Tarlac. Their land will become part of the 1,620-hectare tech center penciled for Pax Silica advancement.

Last July 2026, they stated the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) currently informed the impacted neighborhood to leave their ancestral lands by December 2026.
SCRAP Pax Silica likewise questioned the absence of openness from both the Philippine and United States federal government sabout the information of the Pax Silica contract.

“Up to now, no draft resolution or strategy has actually been launched by all celebrations,” they stated.

The statement of the Department of Trade and Industry that no Pax Silica contract finalizing will be held throughout the 49th ASEAN Summit belies the ongoing opaqueness of the contract, they included.