Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17870439313441787043929911.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub will not affect the energy supply of the households and businesses outside it, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Wednesday.<em> Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>CAPAS, Tarlac — An Aeta community in Capas, Tarlac, is facing the prospect of losing not only its homes and farms but also its ancestral burial grounds and decades-old community institutions to the proposed 1,600-hectare Pax Silica project.</p><p>Residents of Sitio Sapang Kawayan, Barangay Aranguren, said the project could<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/2/capas-residents-fear-displacement-livelihood-loss-over-proposed-pax-silica-hub-2022"> displace families from ancestral land </a>where generations have lived and farmed, while also putting their burial grounds, livelihood, and community institutions at risk.</p><p>Residents interviewed on Sunday said they still had little understanding of what exactly would be built on their land and how they would be affected.</p><p>For 66-year-old Aeta resident Antero Capiz, the possible destruction of ancestral burial grounds is among the most painful consequences.</p><p>“Mahirap po e. Kasi isipin niyo na lang iyong namatay namin, bigla nilang sisirain iyong pinaglibingan. Anong mararamdaman mo? Mga ninuno namin iyon,” Capiz said.</p><p>Capiz, the brother of Sapang Kawayan chieftain Petronila Capiz-Munoz, said some graves of his grandparents and relatives on his father&#x27;s side in another area had already been bulldozed. He fears the burial grounds closer to their present community could suffer the same fate if the project proceeds.</p><p>“Sa [Sitio] Binyayan, halos mga lolo ko ang [nakalibing] doon, lolo namin, ng tatay ko pa. Binulldozer na iyong doon. &#x27;Yong dito, hindi pa. Baka malapit na rin sirain iyong ano diyan,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/6/-maawa-naman-kayo-aeta-community-in-tarlac-fears-losing-ancestral-land-to-pax-silica-hub-1833">&#x27;Maawa naman kayo&#x27;: Aeta community in Tarlac fears losing ancestral land to Pax Silica Hub</a></div><p>The community is also concerned that a decades-old church built by indigenous residents could be affected. Capiz said the church was established around the 1990s and was converted into a concrete structure about three years ago.</p><p>The possible loss of their farms is equally alarming for residents whose livelihoods depend largely on agriculture.</p><p>&quot;Iyon pong magtanim ng palay, magtanim ng gulay. Kung ano po iyong pwede namin itanim, iyon ang binibenta namin. Kung wala na kaming pagtaniman, paano kami pwedeng pumasok sa ibang kumpanya? Hindi naman kami pwede dahil hindi kami nakapag-aral,&quot; he said.</p><p>Another resident, 61-year-old Ralph Gelmar Lozano, said his family has spent decades in Sapang Kawayan and has built its livelihood around the community&#x27;s land.</p><p>“Dito na po kami tumanda. Siyempre, hindi na kami, kumbaga sa kabuhayan namin, alam na namin iyong paikot-ikot. Siyempre may mga alaga (small livestock) rin po kami, kahit kaunti ay naibebenta namin iyon,&quot; Lozano said.</p><p>Lozano said he and other residents were told their houses would be affected and that they could be required to leave by December, leaving families only a few months to prepare.</p><p>“Agad-agad, pinapaalis po kami dito by December daw. Ay sabi po namin, bakit agad-agad, madam po? O paano iyong kabuhayan namin? Kayo kaya iyong nasa sitwasyon namin, sabi ko, agad-agad makagawa kayo ng bahay?” he said.</p><p>Antero Capiz likewise recalled being told that they would only have until Christmas to leave.</p><p>“Sabi nila, hanggang pasko na lang kami. Ganyan iyong sinasabi ng ano, &#x27;yong nagbibigay ng papel. Kayo naman kako madam, para kayong nagmamadali kako,” Capiz said.</p><p>Residents said they have yet to receive clear information about where they would be relocated or what assistance would be provided.</p><p>Capiz said their preference is to remain in their community. If relocation becomes unavoidable, however, they want a decent place where they can immediately live and continue supporting their families.</p><p>“Hindi pa namin na ano kung saan kami ililipat. Pero kung para sa amin, mas maganda sana kung dito lang. Dito lang kami. Halimbawa naman, kung ililipat nila kami, e dapat na iyong magandang paglipatan namin,&quot; he said.</p><p>The residents are also worried about compensation. They said they were told that payment would cover their houses but apparently not the land, leaving them uncertain whether the amount would be enough to rebuild, move their belongings and sustain their families after losing their farms.</p><div> </div><div><strong>PROJECT DETAILS REMAIN UNCLEAR</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178704420318320260806-anti-pax-silica-presscon-MT6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Indigenous Aeta leaders and farmers from Capas, Tarlac hold a press conference with petitioners and environmental advocates at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indigenous Aeta leaders and farmers from Capas, Tarlac hold a press conference with petitioners and environmental advocates at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City on Thursday, August 6, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>The residents&#x27; concerns also extend to how the project has been communicated to them.</p><p>Capiz said representatives of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) told them that the land belonged to the agency and was needed for its purposes, but did not clearly explain what project would be constructed or why their community had to leave.</p><p>“Wala pong paliwanag sa amin. Basta sabi, pag-aari daw ng BCDA ito. Gano&#x27;n. Wala po silang pinapaliwanag na ano. Kung ano man,&quot; Capiz explained.</p><p>Lozano said documents were handed to him, but he struggled to understand their contents and wanted authorities to explain clearly how the project would affect their homes and community.</p><p>“Ang sabi ko, sir, binibigyan niyo po akong ganito, dapat ipaliwanag niyo. O baka binigyan niyo ako ng ganito, hindi ko naman maintindihan ang nakasulat dito, siyempre, hindi po ako gano&#x27;ng nakapag-aral. Kaya sinasabi ko sa kanila, ipaliwanag nang maayos,&quot; Lozano said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/dbm-dof-chiefs-confirm-no-allocation-for-pax-silica-in-2027-budget-1924">DBM, DOF chiefs confirm no allocation for Pax Silica in 2027 budget</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>AETAS AWAIT ANCESTRAL LAND RECOGNITION</strong></div><p>The uncertainty comes as the Aeta community continues to await recognition of its ancestral domain.</p><p>Capiz said their application for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) has been pending for decades before the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). He said two relatives who had worked on the application had already died while waiting for the process to be resolved.</p><p>“Matagal na, sir. Ilan na iyong pinsan ko na nag-apply diyan, dalawa na ang namatay sa tagal. Nagsawa na kami kapupuntang Maynila. (Reporter: Para lang asikasuhin yan?) Oo. May tumutulong na kamag-anak namin. Wala. Sawa na rin siguro,&quot; he said.</p><p>The long-running CADT application has become a particularly significant issue as the government moves forward with plans that could affect the community&#x27;s ancestral land.</p><p>The number of Aeta residents who could be affected is also emerging as a point of contention. </p><p>During a Senate hearing on Friday, the Aeta chieftain Petronila Capiz-Munoz said the community&#x27;s own census counted about 1,000 people in Sitio Sapang Kawayan. NCIP Chairperson Nancy Catamco also said during the same hearing that the chieftain had initially reported 75 households or families.</p><div> </div><div><strong>CAPAS MAYOR URGES CONSULTATION</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Capas Mayor Roseller “Boots” Rodriguez has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene in the proposed Pax Silica Project in New Clark City.</p><p>In a statement issued Friday, August 14, Rodriguez said he had formally appealed to Marcos over the project, which is proposed within Capas territory.</p><p>Rodriguez acknowledged the potential benefits of digital infrastructure and economic development but said these must be pursued in accordance with the law. He cited Sections 2(c), 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code, which he said require consultation with affected local governments for projects that could impact the environment, natural resources and agricultural land.</p><p>“Walang dapat maipatupad na proyekto hangga&#x27;t hindi pa nakukumpleto ang konsultasyon at nakukuha ang pag-apruba ng ating Sangguniang Bayan,” Rodriguez said.</p><p>He urged Marcos to direct the BCDA, Department of Trade and Industry, and other concerned agencies to conduct transparent consultations, disclose the project’s technical and environmental details, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.</p><p>Rodriguez said the municipality’s position paper was attached to his letter to Marcos and furnished to BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang.</p><p>“Hindi ito pagtutol sa pag-unlad — ito ay pagtindig para sa Capas. Para sa responsable, transparent, at makataong pamamaraan ng pag-unlad na tunay na mapapakinabangan ng bawat Capaseño, ngayon at para sa susunod na henerasyon,” Rodriguez said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TBb7eg0Mcw?si=VWEiThJfFz5690Qx" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>An Aeta community in Capas, Tarlac, is facing the prospect of losing not only its homes and farms but also its ancestral burial grounds and decades-old community institutions to the proposed 1,600-hectare Pax Silica project.</p>

An Aeta community in Capas, Tarlac, is facing the prospect of losing not only its homes and farms but also its ancestral burial grounds and decades-old community institutions to the proposed 1,600-hectare Pax Silica project.

'Mga ninuno namin 'yon': Aetas fear ancestral graves could be destroyed by Pax Silica

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'Mga ninuno namin 'yon': Aetas fear ancestral graves could be destroyed by Pax Silica

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2026 05:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Aeta Community

Indigenous People

Sapang Kawayan

Pax Silica

Tarlac

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