With its masterplan for the Pax Silica project already approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is targeting to begin construction at the New Clark City site in Tarlac within the Marcos administration. The project is expected to generate high-tech jobs and strengthen the country’s value chain.
‘Within the first two years, we will see the initial site development and even the construction of those first facilities to take place, as that is the standard process followed in BCDA projects within its ecozones,’ BCDA President and chief executive officer Joshua M. Bingcang said in Filipino in a press briefing in Malacañang last Thursday.
While the construction of the site is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028, its full development will take another 10 to 15 years.
Bingcang explained this will be their timeline if their framework agreement with the United States (US) for the said project is finalized this year. BCDA earlier said the said deal was expected to be signed by November.
BCDA made the statement to address the growing public concerns on the alleged negative impact to communities and the environment around the site of the project.
The environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network has warned against alleged excessive water and power consumption of the data centers in the Pax Silica site. It also claims that it will displace Aetas.
Bingcang said locators in the Pax Silica are projected to use 65 to 90 million liters of water and three gigawatts of power per day.
But he assured the surface water harvesting facility, which will generate 120 million liters per day, as well as power plants, which use renewable energy will be built within the Pax Silica site. Currently, he said there is a 500 megawatt power plant in the said area.
BCDA said additional power plants will be built depending on the demand by locators.
Bingcang assured that BCDA will comply with the necessary regulations to ensure Pax Silica will not harm the environment. He disclosed DENR already issued a Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the masterplan of the project.
However, he said, each locater in the Pax Silica project will still need to get a separate ECC from DENR.
‘DENR will also deploy a team-we have already done this at the airport and the Subic-Clark Expressway-to monitor water and air quality, ensuring they meet international standards that pose no harm to the environment or the public,’ Bingcang said.
BCDA also addressed other concerns related to the Pax Silica project. He assured that no indigenous people will be removed from the site if the project is not located in any ancestral land.
It also noted that no mining and weapons manufacturing will be done in the site, which will still be covered by Philippine laws, regulations and government oversight.
Bingcang said they hope the Pax Silica project will gain public support since it is expected hi-tech firms and supply chains will generate 130,000 to 190,000 direct jobs and 500,000 to 800,000 indirect jobs.
‘Pax Silica can help move the Philippines higher up the global value chain. Instead of merely being bystanders to these highly sought-after industries that often pass us by, we will become builders and a central hub for these activities,’ he said.
‘Furthermore, this hub will create a new engine for investment-as I previously mentioned-as well as for exports and regional growth,’ he added.