Sara laughs off ‘Fox Silic–’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte could only laugh after her reaction to the proposed Pax Silica artificial intelligence hub in New Clark City in Tarlac went viral overnight.

Asked on Wednesday what she thought of Pax Silica, a multi-nation, multibillion-dollar project in tech manufacturing, Duterte said: “What? Fox Silic – Fox Silic? I have no… I cannot comment on that.”

Speaking to a vlogger at yesterday’s rally in The Hague, Duterte said, “If they cannot respect a ‘no comment,’ you should not lose sleep over it. That is their problem. That is not your problem.”

Palace press officer Claire Castro usually has a lot to say when it comes to President Marcos’ arch critic the Vice President.

But Castro was tight-lipped when asked about Duterte sounding clueless on the Pax Silica project.

“I have no comment,” Castro said in a press briefing yesterday. “We have seen the video. What do we need to explain? Let’s leave it at that.”

Marcos has backed the establishment of Pax Silica, saying the Philippines is making its way into strategic and emerging industries.

The project involves the establishment of the Pax Silica New Clark City, a 1,620-hectare industrial and innovation district that integrates semiconductor packaging, electronics, AI computing, research and development and mineral processing.

Castro gave assurance that the government would consider all of the issues raised about the project.

The project’s framework agreement is expected to be signed in November.

Asked to react to Capas, Tarlac Mayor Butch Rodriguez’s concern about the environmental impact of the project, Castro said the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has conducted initial meetings with local governments and state agencies on New Clark City’s development plans. – Alexis Romero

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