MANILA — Malacañang is open to revising provisions of the proposed 1,600-hectare Pax Silica technology hub amid public concerns over the United States-backed project’s potential impact on the country’s water and power resources.
Pax Silica is a US-led international initiative launched in December 2025 to secure supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and critical minerals, largely aimed at countering China’s tech dominance. The term combines pax (Latin for peace or stability) and silica (the material used to make silicon chips), meaning a stable global order built on secure tech manufacturing
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government would consider issues raised by various sectors as discussions on the artificial intelligence-focused industrial complex continue.
“May chance po na mabago ang ibang mga provisions kung ano po ‘yung maaari pang mas maging maganda ang idulot sa ating mga kababayan, sa bansang Pilipinas, and of course sa mga partners. ‘Yun naman po ay isasaalang-alang,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
The proposed Pax Silica hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, is envisioned as a semiconductor and artificial intelligence ecosystem within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The project is expected to require about 130 million liters of water a day and 3 gigawatts of electricity, equivalent to 16% of Luzon’s current grid capacity. Those requirements are comparable to the water consumption of 600,000 households and the output of three coal plants or one nuclear facility.
Castro urged individuals and groups with reservations about Pax Silica to coordinate directly with the government agencies overseeing the project so their concerns could be addressed.
“Sa may mga issues patungkol po dito, mas maganda po makipag-usap tayo sa mga concerned agencies patungkol sa Pax Silica para kung anuman ang inyong mga naiisip na magiging problema, ito po ay mabigyan ng solusyon,” she said.
Castro dismissed suggestions that potential revisions could discourage investors, stressing that the government’s continuing review is intended to improve the project instead of creating uncertainty.
“Hindi naman po dahil ngayon po ay talagang inaayos natin,” she said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. unveiled the Pax Silica complex during his fifth State of the Nation Address. The technology and industrial hub is planned for New Clark City in Tarlac.
Marcos said the project would create high-quality employment opportunities for Filipinos and strengthen the country’s digital economy./PN
