Romnick Sarmenta slams massive foreign AI project over severe threat to PH environment

Veteran actor questions why proposed Pax Silica data centers are being built on local farmlands.

Veteran actor and college lecturer Romnick Sarmenta doubled down on his firm stand against the proposed US-led Pax Silica data centers in the Philippines, raising concerns over the project’s potential environmental and social impacts.

Following a passionate tweet in which he explicitly rejected the initiative, Sarmenta reiterated his position in a recent video, questioning the motives behind building the 1,600-acre industrial AI hub in a country often described as small and overpopulated.

In an August social media post, the actor made his stance clear: “NO to PAX SILICA. We do NOT need Data Centers, we need Health Centers. We do not need AI. We need public libraries. We do not need buildings, we need farmlands. And we do not need possible jobs, we need the farmers to have their farms. And NO, you can’t [have] our water.”

In a follow-up video statement released by the International League of Peoples’ Struggles, Sarmenta challenged the foreign proponents of the data centers, asking why the facilities could not be built in their own countries.

“Sabi nila ang bansang Pilipinas ay maliit, masikip, watak-watak ang mga isla, at overpopulated. So ang tanong ko, bakit dito itatayo ang Pax Silica na data centers? Bakit hindi sa mga bansa ng mga foreign proponents kung saan mas malawak at wala sigurong madidisplace na indigenous people at mga magsasaka?” he argued.

He further questioned the promise of job creation, pointing out the potential for disproportionate benefits. He suggested that if these companies genuinely wanted to provide jobs, they could simply employ qualified Filipinos in their home countries rather than using local resources.

“Alangan namang construction worker lang tayo tapos iba ‘yong makikinabang? Gano’n ba ‘yong usapan?” he quipped.

While admitting that he still has much to learn about the complexities of the issue, Sarmenta stressed that destroying natural landscapes in the guise of helping the country simply does not add up.

“Pero ang malinaw sa akin, hindi pagtulong ‘yong natural resources natin ang gagamitin, lupa natin ang gagamitin, papatagin ang mga bundok, puputulin ang mga puno, tatanggalan ng lugar ‘yong mga magsasaka at saka ‘yong mga indigenous people, tapos tulong ‘yon sa atin? Paano ‘yon naging tulong sa atin?” he stated.

He ended his message with a definitive declaration of his position: “Ako po si Romnick Sarmenta, manggagawa ng telebisyon at pelikulang Pilipino, tahasang umaayaw at hindi sang-ayon sa Pax Silica.”

Sarmenta will return to the stage as Ericson Acosta in the October rerun of the stage adaptation of “About Us But Not About Us.”

A month after the run, the Bases and Conversion Development Authority, which will act as the primary developer and regulatory manager, aims to finalize plans through a framework deal with the United States by November, with formal construction and development of the AI hub expected to begin by 2028.