By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has assured the public that the proposed Pax Silica project in New Clark City will undergo strict environmental scrutiny, as opposition groups continue to raise concerns over its potential impact on natural resources and nearby communities.
Acting Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the agency would ensure that all environmental laws and regulations are fully observed before any major development proceeds.
“We will ensure environmental compliance will be strictly observed,” Cuna told reporters on the sidelines of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s SONA 2026 at the House of Representatives on Monday.
While acknowledging the project’s economic potential, Cuna stressed that environmental protection would remain the government’s priority.
“We look forward to a big project like this that will provide jobs and help our economy, but we will definitely not sacrifice the environment for the Pax Silica,” he said.
The proposed Pax Silica initiative seeks to establish a 1,620-hectare artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing hub in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. Government estimates indicate the project could generate nearly 200,000 jobs and contribute as much as P180 billion in annual revenues.
Despite those projections, several progressive organizations and environmental advocates have voiced strong opposition to the US-backed initiative during the “People’s SONA” protest along Commonwealth Avenue.
Among them, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned that the project could intensify land conversion, displace farming and indigenous communities, and increase pressure on the country’s energy and water resources.
KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos said the government’s participation in the project could accelerate what he described as land grabbing and environmentally destructive development under the banner of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
The Makabayan bloc also expressed concern that the facility may require approximately five gigawatts of electricity, arguing that such demand could further strain the country’s already fragile power grid.
Cuna, however, sought to ease fears over possible displacement, saying the initial site identified within New Clark City is an uninhabited area.
“The community will not be disturbed,” he said, adding that the location was selected precisely because it has no existing residents.
The Pax Silica project has gained renewed attention following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where both officials discussed investment opportunities related to the proposed technology hub.
As discussions continue, the DENR maintained that economic development and environmental protection must go hand in hand, emphasizing that compliance with environmental standards will remain a prerequisite before the project moves forward.
ia/xf
