The UP Asian Center will be hosting the online forum, "Pax Silica in the Philippines: What's at stake?" on 18 August 2026, 2 PM, PHT, online via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, but signing up for a (free) Zoom account is required.
ABOUT THE FORUM
In the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 27 July 2026, President Marcos mentioned, in passing, the “US-led Pax Silica initiative,” which he believed would boost the country’s economic and industrial competitiveness. Even before this acknowledgment by the administration, several academic, civil society, and political organizations have expressed concerns regarding its effects on the environment, agriculture, prices of basic commodities such as water and electricity, indigenous peoples, and other minority groups, especially amidst the ongoing energy crisis, inflation, and environmental issues. With the upcoming signing of the agreement in November 2026, various communities and organizations highlight the multisectoral application of the issue that now beckons the public to consider the potential effects of establishing the new AI and microchip facility. This roundtable discussion brings together scholars, policy-makers, and stakeholders to disentangle the complex, multifaceted issues surrounding Pax Silica. What is it exactly about? How is the “initiative” related to Philippine national interests? What are the broader economic, geopolitical, social, and other consequences of this project?
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
EUGENE REX JALAO, Ph.D.
Professor, UP Department of Industrial Engineering
Dr. Eugene Rex L. Jalao is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Analytics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, where he also serves as Assistant University Registrar for Academic Information Systems and Program Coordinator of the Artificial Intelligence Program. His areas of specialization include intelligent systems and analytics, decision support systems, and big data. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University in 2013, and his MS and BS degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman. His professional and research experience spans business analytics, data mining, optimization, and systems simulation, with applications across various industries including banking, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, and information technology.
NICETO POBLADOR, Ph.D.
Retired Professor, UP School of Economics
Dr. Niceto S. Poblador is a retired Professor of Economics and Management at the University of the Philippines and currently serves as a Professorial Lecturer at the UP Diliman Extension Programs in Pampanga and Olongapo. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has had a distinguished academic career spanning economics, management, business policy, and public administration. His research and scholarly work examine organizational strategy, institutional and social change, business ethics, corporate responsibility, and inclusive economic development. He has published extensively on these subjects, including studies on bureaucratic efficiency, stakeholder theory, corporate responsibility, and strategic management, and has contributed to policy discussions on Philippine economic development and the role of business in society. More recently, his work has focused on inclusive business, sustainable development, and economic policy, including analyses of Philippine development strategies and the country's electric power sector.
KEVIN BAUTISTA
MA Asian Studies, UP Asian Center
Kevin Bautista is an MA in Asian Studies candidate who majors in Southeast Asia. By day, he is a regional marketing operations manager at a U.K. non-government organization.
ALIYA S. PELEO, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, UP Asian Center
Dr. Aliya S. Peleo earned her Ph.D. at the Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies, National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She has an MA in International Development from the Graduate School of International Relations at the International University of Japan in Niigata, Japan. She has worked on a number of development projects in Central Asia with UNESCO, the Peace Corps/Kazakhstan, USAID, and ADB. She has also taught economics and management at the KIMEP University, International Academy of Business, and Suleyman Demirel University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
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