Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA &mdash; The Department of Agriculture during its budget hearing at the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday said no entity has yet applied for land conversion in connection with the planned Pax Silica Hub in the province of Tarlac.This was according to DAR Undersecretary Napoleon Galit when asked by Gabriela Women&rsquo;s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.&ldquo;Wala pa pong nag-aapply ng kahit anong entities para mag-apply ng conversion tungkol ho diyan [Pax Silica project]. Ang masaasbi ko ho diyan, maski na nag BCDA [Bases Conversion and Development Authority] ay mayroon din mandate, mayron silang kapangyarihan na mag-exercise ng expropriation or power of eminent domain,&rdquo; Galit told Elago during the hearing.&nbsp;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/palace-promises-pax-silica-deals-won-t-disadvantage-philippines-1921">Palace promises Pax Silica deals &#39;won&#39;t disadvantage&#39; Philippines</a></div>According to Galit, DAR will definitely exercise its mandate to protect Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) if necessary.&ldquo;We will definitely contest the validity of exercise of the power of eminent domain of the Pax Silica or even the BCDA to that effect,&rdquo; Galit said.The DAR official made these statements after Elago cited a study conducted by the UP Department of Geodetic Engineering regarding land use and conversion in the province of Tarlac.It said that from 2017 to 2022, agricultural lands were reduced by 50.19% to 40.64% while the expansion of solar farms tripled to 333.3% in the province.According to Galit, under the Constitution, both the need for electricity and the rights of the farmers are protected.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ito po ay parehas naming binabalanse at pinapangalagaan,&rdquo; Galit said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/imee-marcos-raises-sovereignty-concerns-over-planned-pax-silica-hub-1605">Imee Marcos raises sovereignty concerns over planned Pax Silica hub&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;</div>Galit believes that despite productive agricultural land conversions in Tarlac, there remains sufficient land for agriculture.&nbsp;&ldquo;Supisyente pa rin po ang lawak ng kalupaan para po sa ating agricultural na nangangailangan ng suporta ng modern agriculture,&rdquo; said Galit.According to Elago, BCDA&rsquo;s proposed Pax Silica Hub in Tarlac will be needing 4,000 acres or 1,619 hectares in New Clark City.<div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

The Department of Agriculture during its budget hearing at the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday said no entity has yet applied for land conversion in connection with the planned Pax Silica Hub in the province of Tarlac.

The Department of Agriculture during its budget hearing at the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday said no entity has yet applied for land conversion in connection with the planned Pax Silica Hub in the province of Tarlac.

DAR: No applications for land conversion yet in planned Pax Silica area

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DAR: No applications for land conversion yet in planned Pax Silica area

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 04:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Assistant Minority Leader Rep Sarah Jane Elago

Gabriela Women’s Party

DAR

Pax Silica

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