In a surprising moment, Vice President Sara Duterte expressed confusion over the Pax Silica initiative during her visit to The Hague, Netherlands. This initiative, emphasized by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his recent State of the Nation Address, seeks to establish the Philippines as a regional leader in advanced technologies.
Duterte's Reaction Sparks Social Media Buzz
“Ano (What)? Fox Sili – Fox Silic? Wala (No). I cannot comment on that,” said Duterte.
Sara Duterte, Vice President of the Philippines
- Pax Silica aims to boost the semiconductor and AI industries.
- Duterte skipped the SONA, calling it a 'waste of time.'
Duterte's remarks came after she was approached by reporters while visiting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court detention center. Her lack of awareness regarding the initiative, which is positioned as a critical component of the Marcos administration's economic strategy, has raised questions about the coherence of the government's tech agenda.
The initiative's goal is to attract investments in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, sectors deemed essential for the Philippines' economic future. Marcos highlighted it in his SONA, aiming to position the country competitively within the region.