ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Militant organizations held a caravan protest on Friday opposing the Luzon Economic Corridor and the proposed Pax Silica project in Tarlac.
The groups gathered in the morning at Salakot Bayanihan Park in Angeles City before marching toward the main gate of the Clark Freeport Zone. They were stopped from entering the freeport by BCDA security personnel, who formed a human barricade at the entrance.
The protesters then held a brief program outside the gate, where they denounced the planned agreement between the Philippines and the United States to establish Pax Silica in Tarlac.
The groups claimed that the project would adversely affect the environment, Indigenous communities, farmers and landowners in the area.
After the program, the protesters marched back to Salakot Bayanihan Park before proceeding to the BCDA field office in Capas, Tarlac. The caravan was also scheduled to pass through Barangay Sta. Lucia, where Pax Silica is expected to be built.
A Cultural Solidarity Program was set to take place in the area, featuring speakers from Ayt a and peasant communities who fear displacement because of the proposed project.
Among those who joined the protest were Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teddy Casiño, former Gabriela party-list representative Liza Maza, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and activist Renato Reyes.
Mong Palatino, secretary-general of Bayan, said the caravan began at University Avenue at the University of the Philippines Diliman before proceeding to Clark. He said the protest coincided with the second day of the 2026 Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, organized by the United States government.
The forum included a visit to areas within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Palatino said the United States should not lead the investment forum, which he described as part of efforts to develop the region for military-related purposes.
The protesters alleged that the Luzon Economic Corridor would pave the way for the development of a military defense manufacturing facility, rather than serve solely as an economic project as presented by its proponents.
They also accused the Marcos administration of colluding with US defense contractors and condemned what they described as the use of Philippine land and resources for foreign military interests.
