‘Pax Sili-can’t?’: DOST chief passes on Pax Silica questions

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Monday declined to discuss the proposed Pax Silica technology hub in New Clark City in detail, saying the project remains under negotiation and has yet to reach a stage where its impacts can be properly assessed.

He spoke at a press conference here on Monday, Aug. 3, where he said it is too early to comment because project details have not been finalized.

“We don’t have the details of what they plan to do. It’s still being negotiated, so I would not make any comment about it,” he said.

Solidum said the DOST’s role is to promote responsible technological development rather than regulate environmental compliance.

He said any project of that scale must undergo a rigorous environmental compliance process led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before implementation.

Government agencies will evaluate the proposal against established environmental and regulatory standards, including its effects on communities, land use, and the environment, he said.

“Before anyone can really discuss the specifics about any project, it has to be detailed and presented in such a way that it can actually be assessed based on the metrics prescribed by responsible government agencies,” he said.

Solidum added that it would be premature to speculate on the project’s possible social or environmental effects without finalized plans.

“For example, if you talk about people who will be displaced, you have to find out what is actually in the area. Is there a forest or cogon grassland? How many people are there? What will they do? Is it simply AI, or will there be other processing or value-added activities? There are still many things we cannot say, and it is very difficult to discuss them without the details,” he said.

He said existing environmental laws and regulatory safeguards are designed to address concerns over environmental protection and community impacts.

“If you are talking about assurance, there are many environmental laws and considerations that regulatory government agencies will have to deal with. DOST is not part of that regulatory process,” Solidum said.

Pax Silica is a United States-led initiative aimed at strengthening supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, AI infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

The coalition was launched in Washington on Dec. 12, 2025, and has expanded from its original founding members to more than a dozen participating countries.

The Philippines joined in April 2026 as part of broader efforts to expand its role in the global technology and semiconductor industries.

The proposed Philippine site covers about 1,620 hectares, or roughly 4,000 acres, within a planned economic security zone in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The property is administered by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which is leading the government’s preparations for the project.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang has said Manila and Washington are targeting November for the signing of a framework agreement that would govern the hub.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on July 30 that discussions remain open and that several provisions of the proposed framework may still change.

Supporters say the project could boost investment, generate high-value jobs, and strengthen the country’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain.

Government projections cited in official briefings place potential direct employment at up to 190,000 workers, with larger indirect gains claimed across logistics and services.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn has been identified by officials as a prospective first locator at the site.

Civil society groups, including scientists and farmers’ organizations, have raised concerns over the project’s demand for water and electricity, possible pressure on the power grid, noise and pollution, and its effects on ecosystems and wildlife.

Other groups have questioned land rights and the possible displacement of farmers and Indigenous communities.

Capas Mayor Butch Rodriguez has said the plan was never formally presented to his local government, though the BCDA maintains that consultations with local government units and national agencies are ongoing.