Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday brushed aside concerns that the proposed Philippines-United States Pax Silica project could worsen water supply in host communities, saying no major industrial project would be approved without a sustainable water management system.&quot;Totoo naman &#x27;yun. Totoo talaga in any manufacturing concern, pero may sources of water naman. In any properly planned industrial estate, nandun na &#x27;yung source of water,&quot; Teodoro told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.The proposed Pax Silica Economic Security Zone is a planned Philippines-United States initiative aimed at developing a strategic minerals and advanced manufacturing hub to support emerging technologies, investments, infrastructure development, and job creation.It aims to build a 4,000 acre semiconductor hub in New Clark City.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/17/pax-silica-why-bcda-wants-new-clark-city-to-be-ph-silicon-valley-0735">Pax Silica: Why BCDA wants New Clark City to be PH Silicon Valley</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/6/5/can-pax-silica-help-the-philippines-move-up-the-semiconductor-value-chain-1917">Can Pax Silica help the Philippines move up the semiconductor value chain?</a></div>According to the defense chief, the greater concern should not be water consumption itself but how water is managed.&quot;Wala namang pangamba. Ang ipangamba natin is the improper use of water. Sa water na ito, recyclable ito. Magkakaroon ka ng impounding, magkakaroon ka ng recycling,&quot; Teodoro said, noting that water used in industrial operations can be recycled.The official assured the public that environmental regulators would not greenlight projects that fail to meet sustainability standards.&quot;The DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] or anybody will not approve any project without water system sustainability,&quot; Teodoro said.He also called on the public to focus on more urgent issues, particularly the proliferation of illegal Chinese-run factories.&quot;Ang pangamba na &#x27;yan, ang pangambahan ninyo, &#x27;yung mga illegal na pabrika ng Chinese na talamak na nagtatayo-tayo diyan na nakakapinsala sa lipunan, ‘yun ang pagtuunan nila ng pansin,&quot; Teodoro said, referring to the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation, a steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, which authorities raided in May.During the operation, authorities apprehended 69 Chinese nationals, who were allegedly working with harmful or noxious materials.&quot;Bakit hindi nila pinagtutuunan ng pansin &#x27;yung substandard steel na tainted pa ng other materials na hindi helpful? Tapos, ang mga kondisyon ng pagtrabaho, masama. &#x27;Yan ang pagtuunan nilang pansin. Hindi &#x27;yung mga bagay na kailangan tumibay ang ating lipunan,&quot; he added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/10/us-backs-major-infrastructure-projects-in-the-philippines-1658">US backs major infrastructure projects in the Philippines</a></div><div> </div><div>Palace: Pax Silaca won&#x27;t harm environment, displace communities</div>Also on Monday, the Palace said the government will ensure that the Pax Silica project will not harm the environment nor displace Filipino communities.&quot;Kung mayroon man tayong pinag-uusapan tungkol sa pagpasok nito ng Pax Silica ito po ay para sa atin at para sa mga kababayan natin,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.Concerns on Aeta communities and the threat of environmental degradation arose over the US-led project.&quot;Sinisigurado po ng Pangulo na lahat po ng gagawin ay naaayon sa batas at hindi po maaaring makasira ito ng ating environment o maka-displace man ng ating mga kababayan nang walang anumang kapalit,&quot; Castro said.Castro cited a statement of the National Water Resources Board to assuage concerns of the public.&quot;We would like to confirm that the available water sources within the project area are sufficient to meet the total water demand of the proposed project without adversely affecting the local water supply,&quot; the NWRB said in a statement read during the Palace briefing.&quot;The project is being planned and developed with the clear commitment that water needs of surrounding communities will remain the foremost priority and will not be compromised at any stage of implementation or operation,&quot; the statement added. Castro said the DENR has assured they are studying the environmental impacts of the project. &quot;So, sisiguraduhin nila na mayroong environmental impact statement and environmental management plan at magkakaroon din po ng regulasyon sa pamamagitan po ng Environmental Management Bureau, Multipartite Monitoring Teams ay gagawin po regularly,&quot; Castro said.&quot;At magkakaroon din po at wini-welcome nila ang innovation pero ito po ay dapat na sumasang-ayon sa istriktong environmental standards from mining to manufacturing. So, iyan po ang sinisiguro ng ating pamahalaan,&quot; she added.The Palace official also maintained the Philippines will have control over the initiative. &quot;Sinabi naman din po ng Pangulo noon na we will not surrender even square inch of our territory to any foreign power. So, sa lahat naman po ito hindi lang sa isang bansa, sa lahat po ito,&quot; she said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday brushed aside concerns that the proposed Philippines-United States Pax Silica project could worsen water supply in host communities.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday brushed aside concerns that the proposed Philippines-United States Pax Silica project could worsen water supply in host communities.

Teodoro says Pax Silica project won't threaten water supply

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Teodoro says Pax Silica project won't threaten water supply

Bianca Dava,

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2026 03:32 PM PHT

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Updated July 20, 2026 05:56 PM PHT

Read More:

Pax Silica

data center

Gibo Teodoro

United States

water supply

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