Camille Naredo

A resident of Sitio Binyanyan, Bgy. O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PAX SILICA

Jessie Cruzat

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/1785673048148viber_image_2026-08-02_19-42-23-894.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A resident of Sitio Binyanyan, Bgy. O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A resident of Sitio Binyanyan, Bgy. O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. <em>Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Residents of a farming community in Capas, Tarlac, raised concerns over the proposed Pax Silica Hub, fearing they could lose their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods after receiving notices indicating that the land they occupy may be affected by the project. </p><p>Among them is 43-year-old farmer Joel Santiago of Sitio Binyayan in Barangay O&#x27;Donnell, who earns around P10,000 a month from crops such as chili peppers—income he uses to support the education of his three children.</p><p>His concern grew after learning that their community could be included in the more than 1,600 hectares identified for the planned Pax Silica Hub in New Clark City. </p><p>The hub is part of the Pax Silica Initiative led by the United States, which aims to strengthen the supply chain for artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced electronics manufacturing.</p><p>&quot;Kung kasama po kami sa makukuha, saan po kami ililipat kung halimbawang kukunin man? Paano na po ang kabuhayan namin? Maninibago na naman kami,&quot; Santiago said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/30/biz-group-backs-pax-silica-but-eyes-guardrails-warns-vs-blind-optimism-reflexive-opposition-1112"><strong>Biz group backs Pax Silica but wants guardrails, warns vs &#x27;blind optimism, reflexive opposition&#x27; </strong></a> </div><p>Resident Mely Julian, 70, echoed the same concern.</p><p>She said that last year, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) paid her P300,000 in compensation for the one-hectare farmland they had been cultivating.</p><p>BCDA serves as the Philippine implementing agency for the proposed Pax Silica Hub and manages New Clark City.</p><p>The former farmland has since been converted into a road which residents believe forms part of the planned development.</p><p>&quot;Sabi po nila kung &#x27;di ka papayag, sapilitang kukunin, hindi ka babayaran. Kaya po sabi nila po, daan lang ang kukunin, &#x27;di na po kukunin &#x27;yong pangkabuhayan namin. Bakit ngayon, kinukuha na ang sinasaka namin? Kasi may anak pa kaming nag-aaral. Paano sila mabubuhay kung di sila makakatapos ng pag-aaral?&quot; Julian said.</p><p>Several residents of Sitio Binyayan have also received letters from BCDA informing them that the land they occupy is included in the area that may be affected by the project.</p><p>Barangay O&#x27;Donnell officials said that they sought clarification from the BCDA but only received a project map and a list of affected areas.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO PUBLIC CONSULTATION</strong></div><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/1785673164142PAX SILICA 3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Bgy. Chairman Wendell Mercado of Bgy. O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bgy. Chairman Wendell Mercado of Bgy. O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. <em>Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Wala pa pong public consultation na nagaganap at hindi naman sila dumadaan dito sa aming barangay. Rumerekta po sila sa mga farmers namin. Minsan naguguluhan po &#x27;yong mga farmers namin, nagpupunta po sila dito, nagsusumbong sa akin. &#x27;Kapitan, sinusukat na &#x27;yong taniman namin.&#x27; Nababahala po sila,&quot; Barangay Chairman Wendell Mercado said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/29/sara-duterte-could-not-comment-on-pax-silica-initiative-1551"><strong>Sara Duterte &#x27;could not comment&#x27; on Pax Silica initiative</strong></a></div><p>Sitio leader Bonifacio Corpuz also questioned whether the compensation being offered would be enough to sustain families in the long term.</p><p>&quot;Ibenta ko &#x27;yong lupa ko, papayag ako sa kanila. Kung dalawang ektarya ang lupa ko, P600,000. Palagay n&#x27;yo po, &#x27;yon bang anak ko sa P600,000 na nag-aaral ng kolehiyo, makatapos po kaya &#x27;yon. Palagay ko hindi rin makatapos. Pero po kung nandiyan ang lupa, baka maka-graduate, makaraos pa &#x27;yong kabuhayan naming pamilya. Kasi po ginto ang lupa na kayamanan ng isang taong mahirap tulad namin,&quot; Corpuz said. </p><p>“Ayaw namin ng Pax Silica. Gusto namin ng lupa,” he added.</p><p>Aside from agriculture, residents said that the community also depends on its abundant water supply.</p><p>With the planned hub expected to require between 65 million and 90 million liters of water for its operations, residents worry that their own supply could eventually be affected. </p><p>&quot;Baka pagdating ng araw po, mawawalan na kami ng tubig gawa ng Pax Silica. Gagamitin ang tubig. Kami naman ang mawawalan ng tubig kasi hihigupin lahat ng tubig namin dito,&quot; resident Wilfredo Pangilinan said.</p><p>BCDA, however, has previously said the project will not draw water from the same source used by nearby communities.</p><p>&quot;Ang target namin diyan ay surface water harvesting, ang ibig sabihin niyan lalo na po ngayon papasok na ang rainy season, huge amount of volume of water dumadapo po diyan. Magkakaroon tayo ng impounding technology or impounding dam areas, so pupunuin natin ang mga &#x27;yan para &#x27;yan ang magamit,&quot; BCDA President and CEO Engr. Joshua Bingcang said during a July 23 press briefing.</p><p>But Mercado remained unconvinced. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/29/pax-silica-will-not-affect-energy-supply-in-luzon-grid-doe-says-1447"><strong>Pax Silica will not affect energy supply in Luzon grid, DOE says </strong></a> </div><p>&quot;Sabi ng BCDA &#x27;yong ulan ang gagamitin nila. Ngayon kulang na kulang ang tubig namin, kahit sa ulan hindi pa sapat para &#x27;yong mga palay namin at mga farmers namin,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PAX SILICA IN SONA</strong></div><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/1785673201941viber_image_2026-08-02_19-42-25-403.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Sitio Binyanyan, Bgy. O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sitio Binyanyan, Bgy. O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. <em>Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Residents also fear the project&#x27;s impact on the electricity supply, although the Department of Energy (DOE) has previously said that it would not allow surrounding communities to experience power shortages because of the hub. </p><p>Despite hoping that plans could still change, many residents said that they became convinced the project would push through after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the Pax Silica Hub during his recent State of the Nation Address.</p><p>&quot;Sana po sa mahal naming pangulo po kung naririnig n&#x27;yo po sana, sana po pakinggan n&#x27;yo po ang daing ng mamamayan n&#x27;yong Pilipino. Matulungan po sana kami na wag na ituloy ang Pax Silica para hindi na kami mahirapan sa paghahanap-buhay,&quot; Santiago appealed.</p><p>The BCDA said that it is still finalizing the framework agreement, which it targets to sign before the end of the year.</p><p>&quot;This year&#x27;s contract negotiation. Next year is the planning stage. By 2028 pwede na po tayong mag-construct po. Normally itong mga project will have phases. Short term phase which is normally 3-5 years which involve the site development, signing, and construction. But at full development, we see this happening even more than 10-15 years,&quot; Bingcang said.</p><p>The local government of Capas has also written to BCDA requesting a comprehensive consultation on the project before any public consultation is conducted.</p><p>ABS-CBN News has reached out to BCDA for its response to the residents&#x27; concerns but has yet to receive a reply.</p><div> </div>

<p>Residents of a farming community in Capas, Tarlac, raised concerns over the proposed Pax Silica Hub, fearing they could lose their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods after receiving notices indicating that the land they occupy may be affected by the project.</p>

Residents of a farming community in Capas, Tarlac, raised concerns over the proposed Pax Silica Hub, fearing they could lose their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods after receiving notices indicating that the land they occupy may be affected by the project.

Capas residents fear displacement, livelihood loss over proposed Pax Silica Hub

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Capas residents fear displacement, livelihood loss over proposed Pax Silica Hub

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 02, 2026 08:22 PM PHT

Read More:

Pax Silica

Capas Tarlac

New Clark City

affected residents

BCDA

Bases Conversion and Development Authority

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