SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate will exercise strict oversight over the proposed Pax Silica initiative to ensure that it becomes a transformative economic opportunity for the country.
Gatchalian said Pax Silica should deliver long-term economic gains for the country without compromising environmental safety, constitutional sovereignty, and the rights of local communities, including farmers and Indigenous peoples.
“While Pax Silica is being constructed and set up, it is important for the Senate to exercise oversight and ensure that these risks and the grievances we are hearing are properly addressed,” Gatchalian said during a recent Senate hearing on the initiative.
He said while the initiative presents a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for the country to shift from low-value semiconductor assembly and vulnerable entry-level Business Process Outsourcing jobs to a high-value technology sector that could generate 200,000 direct jobs and up to 800,000 job opportunities during its construction phase, such economic prospects should be balanced with uncompromising vigilance.
Senate oversight would be maintained throughout all phases of the project, he said.
Through committee questioning, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) representatives confirmed to Gatchalian that foreign investors will fully fund the project’s massive infrastructure, water and power needs without relying on government capital or stressing the existing power grid.
Initial basic infrastructure development will begin in late 2027, with the first manufacturing locator expected by 2028.
Meanwhile, the initiative’s planned mineral processing operations will occur in separate regional nodes outside New Clark City to properly align with local mining sites.
Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Chairman Raffy Tulfo led the broader review of the project, focusing on sovereign land ownership and toxic processing waste.
He urged the immediate passage of a National Land Use Act to resolve overlapping territorial claims and prevent unchecked development across vulnerable sectors.
“The time to act is now. A National Land Use Act will provide a clear framework to balance the needs of development, environmental protection, and social justice,” Tulfo said.
“It will empower local governments, promote sustainable investments, and safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable. Most importantly, it will pave the way for a more resilient and equitable Philippines,” he added.
Sen. Bam Aquino demanded an accurate census of affected families, highlighting discrepancies between official figures and community claims regarding local displacement.
Aquino also insisted on receiving binding guarantees from the BCDA that no demolitions will proceed without prior mutual agreements.
“So whether we will do this together or separately in the future, rest assured there will be hearings to clarify to the people and affected communities what the plans really entail, what the outcomes are, and what safeguards are being put in place for the affected areas,” he said.
