Camille Naredo

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

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. 
The group calls for the cancellation of the controversial Pax Silica project, citing its alleged impact on indigenous communities, farmlands, and the environment. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Pax Silica

Agatha Gregorio

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/178696579843120260806-anti-pax-silica-presscon-MT9.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></div><p>MANILA — No funding has been allocated for Pax Silica in the proposed 2027 budget, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim Robert de Leon and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go told House lawmakers on Monday.</p><p>This is because “nothing has been signed yet” for the project, according to Go.</p><p>Pax Silica is a joint project in New Clark City between the Philippines and the United States said to become the “first AI-native industrial acceleration hub.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/10/ph-could-lose-pax-silica-if-it-drops-the-ball-ambassador-romualdez-1837">READ: PH could lose Pax Silica if it ‘drops the ball’ — Ambassador Romualdez</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/11/tulfo-seeks-senate-probe-into-proposed-pax-silica-hub-2021">READ: Tulfo seeks Senate probe into proposed Pax Silica hub</a></div><p>&quot;[I] just wanted to confirm na wala pong any allocation in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) intended for Pax Silica. The amounts mentioned by the good congresswoman under DICT is intended for the implementation of a new mandate under a law enacted by Congress, which is the e-government law,&quot; De Leon said.</p><p>Prior to this, Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago raised concerns over a supposed jump in proposed funding for digital infrastructure development and management under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). </p><p>Go also said Pax Silica is still under “very preliminary discussion.” </p><p>“This industrial hub is a proposed industrial hub. So one thing&#x27;s for sure. There&#x27;s nothing in the budget that will spend for this proposed industrial hub because nothing has been signed po. So it&#x27;s still a discussion. So I&#x27;m pretty sure the DBM will not put any budget line item– expense line item for something that is in very preliminary discussion,” Go said.</p><p>Go also said that should such a hub be built, there will be “no budget requirement” from them, as they will collect rent. </p><p>“To clarify, if indeed an industrial hub will be built in New Clark City, there&#x27;s no budget requirement from us. They will pay us rent. So it is a revenue-enhancing project. I&#x27;m not aware of any budget requirement that it might entail,” Go said.</p><p>Various lawmakers earlier raised concerns over the planned industrial hub, citing its expected high water and electricity consumption.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/5/lawmakers-raise-concerns-over-water-electricity-consumption-of-pax-silica-project-1730">READ: Lawmakers raise concerns over water, electricity consumption of Pax Silica project</a></div>

<p>No funding has been allocated for Pax Silica in the proposed 2027 budget, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim Robert de Leon and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go told House lawmakers on Monday.</p>

No funding has been allocated for Pax Silica in the proposed 2027 budget, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim Robert de Leon and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go told House lawmakers on Monday.

DBM, DOF chiefs confirm no allocation for Pax Silica in 2027 budget

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DBM, DOF chiefs confirm no allocation for Pax Silica in 2027 budget

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 17, 2026 07:24 PM PHT

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Pax Silica

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