Pax Silica project faces Senate probe over community and environmental concerns

The Philippine Senate has launched an inquiry into the proposed Pax Silica project, a US-led industrial initiative planned for New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The project aims to establish a hub for advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence components, and critical mineral processing to strengthen technology supply chains.

While senators recognize the potential for economic modernization, the inquiry has raised significant concerns regarding social and environmental impacts. Local communities, including over 1,000 Indigenous Peoples and approximately 300 farmers, face potential displacement and the loss of agricultural land and ancestral burial grounds. Legislators have called for greater transparency, infrastructure readiness, and formal community consultations.

Regarding fiscal planning, the Marcos administration has not included funding for the Pax Silica hub in the proposed 2027 national budget. Finance Secretary Frederick Go clarified that the project remains in preliminary discussions and no final agreements have been signed, meaning no official budget allocation is currently required.