Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

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/17877346914501787734689588.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>MANILA — No environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been “applied for or processed” on Pax Silica, a planned industrial hub in New Clark City in Tarlac, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.</p><p>During the budget hearing of the DENR at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Cuna said they do not know of any clear project description yet.</p><p>“There has been no environmental impact assessment applied for or processed, Mr. Chair, this time. In fact, there’s no clear project description actually that we are aware of at this time. So for us to be able to intelligently assess any environmental impact, the project description should be clear,” Cuna said in response to Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co asking about whether or not an assessment has been done.</p><p>Concerned groups and individuals have raised concern over the impact of Pax Silica particularly on possible construction of AI data centers, as these facilities require tremendous amount of water and electricity which may deplete resources for communities.</p><p>The trade department had earlier assured lawmakers that the facility in Clark will only house manufacturing plants and not an AI data center, although it did admit these centers may be built elsewhere.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/24/pax-silica-to-focus-on-advanced-manufacturing-not-ai-data-centers-dti-2039">Pax Silica to focus on advanced manufacturing, not AI data centers—DTI</a></div><p>Co also questioned the DENR over the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) supposedly saying a master plan has been approved by the DENR.</p><p>“Nung July 23, ang BCDA, sabi niya po na may master plan sila, at inaprubahan na raw po ng DENR ‘yung master plan na ito. So is that true?” Co asked.</p><p>Environmental Management Bureau Director Michael Drake Matias clarified an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) was issued for the BCDA’s development plan for an area in New Clark City, but not Pax Silica specifically.</p><p>“I think the good congresswoman is referring to the ECC that was issued for the development plan of the BCDA, which covers the entire area. But if we’re going to look at ‘yung project, Sir, as mentioned in the reports, ‘yung 1,600 hectares, wala pa pong specific projects that will be located po doon sa area,” Matias said.</p><p>Matias added, “If there will be applications or projects within that 1,600, then they will be required to undergo an EIA. So they will be required to secure an ECC for that specific project.”   </p><p>Back in July, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said the DENR vowed to establish an environmental impact statement and plan on Pax Silica.</p><p>“Pati na po ang DENR ay nagbigay na rin sila ng kanilang mensahe dahil ime-maintain nila at imi-mitigate nila. Or rather, magkakaroon po ng pag-aaral patungkol po sa environmental impact nito. So sisiguraduhin nila na mayroong environmental impact statement and environmental management plan,” Castro said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘CHANCE IN A LIFETIME’</strong></div><p>Palawan 2nd District Representative Jose Alvarez called the project a “chance in a lifetime,” adding the public should not be scared of it.</p><p>Alvarez also compared the predicted water consumption to how much water enters the ocean from the Zambales rivers within just a second.</p><p>“‘Yung tinatakot natin na 60 million liters ang kailangan sa isang araw, kung i-combine mo ‘yung discharge ng all Zambales rivers into the ocean, every second is equivalent to that 60 million liters. That’s only equivalent to 60,000 cubic meters,” Alvarez said.</p><p>“Huwag matakot ‘yung ating publiko doon sa Pax Silica. Just a small information kasi water is my forte, and 60 million liters is only 60,000 cubic meters… This is a chance in a lifetime. We must get this,” Alvarez added.</p><p>Co then said there are various other concerns that must be addressed when it comes to Pax Silica, citing the situation of data centers in other countries.</p><p>“Aside from tubig, sa kuryente, sa lupa, marami pong compounded concerns ‘yan. And we’re looking at DENR to resolve some of these concerns. And so ‘yung concerns naman po ‘to, hindi ‘to in a vacuum lang. Everywhere else in the world, may mga concerns na po on data centers,” Co said.</p><p>Other lawmakers previously raised concerns over the project, even filing a House resolution for an inquiry on Pax Silica’s implications on national security, data governance, and environmental protection.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/5/lawmakers-raise-concerns-over-water-electricity-consumption-of-pax-silica-project-1730">Lawmakers raise concerns over water, electricity consumption of Pax Silica project</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>EO 122 IMPACT ON PAX SILICA </strong></div><p>FPJ Panday party-list Representative Brian Poe also asked DENR about Executive Order 122 on the critical minerals industry and how mining operations, as well as Pax Silica, would be affected by this.</p><p>The site is also expected to be a site for critical minerals processing.</p><p>“Section 5 to Section 9 of this executive order is all about expediting the entry of mineral extraction in the Philippines. But Section 13 squarely puts DENR in charge of issuing supplemental guidelines to ensure effective implementation of this order,” Poe said.</p><p>“A lot of our countrymen and women are curious as to how important mining operations, including Pax Silica, will be affected by this executive order, and what exactly do we expect from the DENR to protect our countrymen from abusive mineral extraction processes?” Poe asked.</p><p>DENR Asst. Secretary Michael Cabalda said the executive order would only strengthen the implementation of environmental and social requirements.</p><p>“Hindi ibig sabihin po doon sa section na pinabibilis po natin ang ating permitting na magiging balewala na po ang ating environmental and social requirements. Mas paiigtingin pa po natin actually,” Cabalda said.</p><p>“Dahil nga po ito naman ay hindi po parang shotgun policy that would allow for all minerals to be mined. We now define minerals as critical, meaning these are the minerals that would be used for energy transition,” Cabaldo added.</p><p>During the hearing, Cuna said they are requesting a total budget of P28.04 billion for 2027. </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/_Sjvq-0gFNw?si=M3XDiMIplIuNxYwl" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>No environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been “applied for or processed” on Pax Silica, a planned industrial hub in New Clark City in Tarlac, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.</p>

No environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been “applied for or processed” on Pax Silica, a planned industrial hub in New Clark City in Tarlac, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.

No environmental impact assessment processed on Pax Silica – DENR

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No environmental impact assessment processed on Pax Silica – DENR

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 05:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Pax Silica

DENR

House of Representatives

budget

environmental impact assessment

artificial intelligence

AI data center

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