Pax Silica, El Niño: Environmental issues for SONA 2026

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ended his SONA last year with a bang: the crackdown on corruption surrounding flood control projects. What followed were investigations into corruption in the highest echelons of government, the uncovering of scandalous wealth and contractor ties, public condemnation, and the death of a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official. That all started with an environmental issue: Infrastructure — dikes, pumping stations, retaining walls — that have failed to keep communities safe from floods. Worse, many were even ghost projects. What are the major environmental and climate concerns of the country today? We made a rundown of the environmental issues that warrant being mentioned in Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27. Landfill crises: The advent of waste-to-energy? The first half of 2026 was marked by consecutive landfill incidents: in Binaliw, Cebu City; Rodriguez, Rizal; and Davao City. Several people were killed. A fire erupted in the closed Navotas landfill that led to the evacuation of people in parts of Bulacan. The landfill crisis even spilled over to political bickering. The closure of the landfill in Davao City caused a spat between Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and the Palace. Groups raised alarm over waste pickers’ safety, and called for better implementation of the solid waste management law to prevent more trash slides. TRASH SLIDE. A drone shot of the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City shows a collapsed structure at the foot of the landfill. Photo by Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler In light of these incidents, many environmentalists have expressed caution on waste-to-energy projects as the solution to these landfill incidents. The Department of Energy has resumed the auction for waste-to-energy projects under its Green Energy Program. We know of at least two companies applying for an environmental compliance certificate for waste-to-energy projects. How will Marcos address the crisis in waste management? Will he trumpet the waste-to-energy agenda in his SONA? El Niño and food supply Still coping with the impacts of the Middle East conflict and high oil prices, farmers and fisherfolk are bracing for the El Niño expected to peak in November. The El Niño will affect not just livelihoods but food production and supply as well. Fuel and fertilizer prices have eased but remain elevated and at risk of rising again due to renewed conflict between the US and Iran. Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had directed his agency to “fast-track irrigation, water impounding and other climate adaptation projects” before the dry spell hits. The Philippines suffered a lot in the 2024 El Niño, with a production loss worth P57.8 billion. Will the country be better prepared this year and the next? Pax Silica and water woes On April 16, the Philippines joined the Pax Silica – the United States’ initiative to grow supply chains for the artificial intelligence era. Under this initiative, the Philippines is set to build a 4,000-acre industrial hub in New Clark City. The country is being eyed for its reserves of nickel, copper, chromite, and cobalt. What’s the primary reason for outcry over Pax Silica? The threat of water insecurity as data centers require millions of gallons of water for cooling systems that computer servers need. Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Joshua Bingcang assured the public in a Palace briefing on Thursday, July 23 that the project will have its own water supply and will not encroach on the local community’s sources. There are alternatives for the hub, according to Bingcang: surface water harvesting, storage, treatment, and recycling. Bingcang said they plan to establish water impounding areas as well. “At kung may surplus kami, pwede pa namin i-share ito sa community around,” Bingcang said. (And if we have surplus, we can even share this to the communities around.) The hub at New Clark City is set to host mineral processing and semiconductor fabrication industries. Those opposed to the project claim negative impacts on farmers and Aeta communities such as diverting water from locals. In militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan’s opposition to the project, they said the Philippines will become a “forward operating base in an economic and technological war” that the United States is waging against China. Similarly, Akbayan Party is calling for a probe on whether the data centers and other parts of the hub will “place unsustainable demands on our country’s electricity and water resources” and impose unjust costs on host communities. Delayed submission of climate targets The Philippines has yet to submit its revised climate targets to the United Nations, more than a year past deadline. Parties to the Paris Agreement submit Nationally Determined Contributions (or NDCs) – the emission reduction targets that countries assign themselves. Submission and implementation of these targets are part of the collective effort to reduce emissions and save the planet from the climate crisis. Opposition to mining in biodiverse areas Recently, locals from Sibuyan Island, Romblon, sounded the alarm on planned mining activities of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation after the company secured an endorsement from a local council. Sibuyanons have started a petition urging Marcos, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the local government to stop the mining project. There is mining opposition in Palawan province as well. In Brooke’s Point, residents put up a community barricade to protest the activities of Calmia Nickel Incorporated. Mining cobalt, lithium, nickel, among others, positions the Philippines in the global supply chain of critical minerals for the renewable energy shift. But many locals and clean energy advocates cite the constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology and their call for a just energy transition. RALLY. Environmental groups along with human rights, indigenous peoples and faith-based organizations, hold a protest in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Quezon City on March 4, 2024, to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler Flood control scandal, of course If the President wants a good narrative in his SONA, he can pick up where he left off: the flood control controversy he set in motion last year. Flood control corruption is at the top of issues that Filipinos want to hear about in Marcos’ fifth SONA, according to recent Pulse Asia survey. The latest development? The Office of the Ombudsman found the President’s cousin, former House speaker Martin Romualdez, the “central figure” in the scandal. Romualdez’ camp belied the accusation. Beyond accountability however, questions remain on the what flood control measures the country really needs. Environmentalists are demanding a shift in the government’s approach to disaster risk reduction. Experts and advocates have been recommending more investments on green solutions to mitigate flood: regeneration of watershed ecosystems, and preservation of mangrove forests and wetlands. Are there issues in your province or locality that should merit more attention from the national government? Let us know in the Environment and Science channel of the Rappler Communities. – Rappler.com