MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday said nothing will stop Sen. Imee Marcos from pursuing an investigation on the soundness of Pax Silica business venture.
Pax Silica is a proposed high-tech manufacturing and innovation hub under the Luzon Economic Corridor that aims to position the Philippines as a key player in global supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
Marcos sought a Senate inquiry on the Pax Silica agreement amid alleged complaints from farmers in Capas, Tarlac, who reportedly told to stop planting to clear land for the tech hub.
Sought for reaction on Marcos' move, Castro, in Filipino, said, "Nothing can stop Senator Imee Marcos from what she wants to do. I think it would be better that she'll informed [about this] because we're talking about farmers here."
She said that about 3,500 hectares had been declared buildable zones. This is where the Pax Silica project will be located. The proposed industrial estate will cover about 1,620 hectares within the 9,450-hectare New Clark City.
She noted that some areas in Tarlac had been allocated as "buildable areas" when the country hosted the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in the province.
"So, it is expected that no farmers should be there anymore because it had been approved as buildable zones," Castro said.
"And about 6,000 hectares have been reserved for open green spaces, forest reserves and designated zones for upland farming," she said.
"So, it will only occupy a small area. So, it will not affect our farmers," the Palace Press Officer said.
Over 130,000 high-quality jobs for Filipinos could be generated from the proposed Pax Silica development while positioning the country as a hub for advanced manufacturing, the BCDA earlier said.
At a Palace press briefing last werk, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang said the US-led initiative could attract up to $70 billion in investments once fully developed.
