Technology must always remain at the service of the human person, never the human person at the service of technology.[i]
The Frassati Society Philippines recognizes the immense potential of artificial intelligence to contribute to medicine, education, scientific research, disaster response, communication, and the common good. As Catholics, we do not reject technological progress. Rather, we affirm that authentic progress must always respect the inviolable dignity of every human person, protect creation, and promote justice.
For this reason, we express our serious concern regarding the proposed establishment of the Pax Silica AI facility in the Philippines, particularly in the absence of clear, transparent, and enforceable guarantees that will safeguard:
- the dignity, rights, and welfare of Filipino workers;
- the protection of our natural environment and local communities;
- the privacy and security of personal data;
- accountability in the use of artificial intelligence; and
- equitable sharing of the benefits of technological development.
The Church has consistently taught that technological innovation is not morally neutral. Every technological advancement must be evaluated according to whether it serves the human person and the common good.
In his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV reminds the world that in the age of artificial intelligence, “the pressing duty is to remain profoundly human.” The Holy Father warns against allowing technological power to become concentrated in the hands of a few or reducing persons to mere sources of data, labor, or economic value. Instead, AI must always serve humanity, protect the dignity of workers, uphold truth, strengthen justice, and preserve authentic human relationships.[ii]
This teaching stands firmly within the rich tradition of the Church’s Social Doctrine. Since Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, the Church has consistently defended the dignity of labor and the rights of workers[iii]. St. John Paul II, in Laborem Exercens, taught that work exists for the human person and not the human person for work[iv]. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized in Caritas in Veritate that technological development without ethical formation can become a source of injustice rather than authentic progress[v]. Even Pope Francis, in Laudato Si’, further reminds us that economic development can never justify the destruction of our common home or the exploitation of vulnerable communities[vi].
We therefore believe[vii] that no AI infrastructure project of this magnitude should proceed unless there are publicly available and legally binding commitments that include:
- Protection of employment through fair labor standards, just wages, humane working conditions, and opportunities for upskilling Filipino workers rather than their displacement.
- Independent environmental assessments that evaluate energy consumption, water usage, carbon emissions, and long-term ecological impact, together with concrete mitigation measures.
- Strong data privacy and cybersecurity safeguards that fully respect the rights of every Filipino and comply with the highest international standards of transparency and accountability.
- Public consultation with affected communities, civil society, Church representatives, labor organizations, environmental experts, and academic institutions before final approval.
- Independent oversight mechanisms capable of monitoring compliance and imposing meaningful sanctions when ethical, environmental, labor, or privacy standards are violated.
As followers of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, we are inspired by his witness of holiness expressed through solidarity with workers, love for the poor, defense of justice, and profound respect for the dignity of every person. His life reminds us that genuine progress is measured not by technological sophistication alone, but by how society treats the weakest, the forgotten, and those whose voices are often unheard.
At present, however, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the proponents of the proposed Pax Silica AI Facility have not yet presented concrete, transparent, legally enforceable, and verifiable measures that adequately address these serious concerns regarding the protection of human dignity, the rights and welfare of workers, environmental stewardship, data privacy, and the ethical governance of artificial intelligence.
For this reason, the Frassati Society Philippines firmly joins various sectors to call the Philippine Government to oppose the proposed construction of the Pax Silica AI Facility in its present form.
The Philippines should welcome innovation but never at the expense of human dignity.
We therefore respectfully call upon the Philippine Government, legislators, regulatory agencies, technology companies, and all stakeholders to ensure that any decision regarding the proposed Pax Silica facility is guided by the principles of human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, the common good, environmental stewardship, and justice.
The future of artificial intelligence must not simply be more powerful.
It must be more human.
Verso l’Alto. Verso l’altro!
[i] Gaudium et Spes, no. 40, as paraphrased by Benedict XVI on his letter to Cardinal Raffaele Farina, 9 November 2010
[ii] Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence (15 May 2026), especially Introduction (nos. 1–16) and Chapter III: “Technology and Dominance – The Grandeur of Humanity in Light of the Promises of AI,” particularly the sections “A valuable tool that requires vigilance” and “Responsibility, transparency and the governance of AI.”
[iii] Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891), nos. 6–20.
[iv] John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (1981), no. 6.
[v] Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009), nos. 68–70.
[vi] Francis, Laudato Si’ (2015), nos. 49, 109, 128, 194–195.
[vii] Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004), nos. 101–104, 149–208.
PAX SILICA Industrial Hub: What Must Every Filipino Consider?
As the Philippines moves toward becoming a center for artificial intelligence and digital innovation through the proposed PAX SILICA Industrial Hub, every Filipino is called to exercise prudence and moral discernment. Beyond its promises of economic growth and technological advancement lies a more fundamental question: Will this project truly uphold the dignity of every human person and promote the common good?
Pope Leo XIV offers us guiding principles in his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te. He reminds us that authentic human progress must always begin with Christ’s love for every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable, and those on the margins. No vision of national development can be considered truly successful if it neglects human dignity, weakens solidarity, or sacrifices the welfare of the least among us for the sake of innovation or profit.
It is in the light of these Gospel principles that we invite every Filipino to reflect on the proposed PAX SILICA Industrial Hub before embracing it. The questions that follow are not born out of fear of technology but out of our Christian responsibility to ensure that every technological advancement remains at the service of humanity and never above it.
