Sen. Raffy Tulfo has sought a Senate investigation into the proposed Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City, calling for an assessment of its economic, environmental, social, technological, and national security implications.
Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, filed Senate Resolution No. 571 amid questions over the project’s land and resource requirements, impact on nearby communities, and long-term benefits to Filipinos.
The resolution seeks to determine whether existing laws and regulatory safeguards are adequate for large-scale developments involving artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and other emerging technologies.
“While such investments may contribute significantly to economic growth, technology transfer, innovation, and job creation, they have likewise generated public concerns and policy questions,” Tulfo said.
Among the issues identified in the resolution are land use, urban planning, water consumption, resource allocation, and environmental sustainability.
It also raised the possible effect of the project on the rights, welfare, cultural integrity, and ancestral domains of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Tulfo said the inquiry should also examine the project’s employment projections, workforce development plans, skills requirements, and expected economic and technological benefits.
“The concerns expressed by citizens, local communities, indigenous people, members of the scientific community, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders underscore the importance of ensuring that public participation and meaningful consultation remain integral components of the planning, evaluation, and implementation of projects of national significance,” he said.
The proposed 1,620-hectare complex is part of the US-led Pax Silica initiative, which seeks to develop secure supply chains for AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. endorsed the project during his State of the Nation Address on July 27, saying it would support the country’s industrial competitiveness and generate jobs.
The Philippine and US governments are reportedly targeting November for the signing of a framework agreement. The government has estimated the hub could attract as much as $70 billion in investments and create up to 190,000 direct jobs.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority has since clarified that the development would focus mainly on semiconductor and industrial activities rather than hyperscale data centers.
Its first phase could cover about 500 hectares and begin within three to five years, while full development may take about 30 years. The BCDA said any data centers inside the hub would primarily support semiconductor companies.
Critics, however, have questioned the project’s potential demand for electricity and water, its environmental footprint, and the lack of publicly available details on investors and the proposed agreement.
Government agencies and project proponents have maintained that the hub would remain subject to constitutional and statutory requirements covering environmental protection, land use, indigenous peoples’ rights, public consultation, investment regulation, and national security.
Tulfo said Congress must determine “whether existing laws and regulatory frameworks adequately govern emerging large-scale technology and digital infrastructure developments and whether additional legislative measures are necessary to ensure that such developments are undertaken in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the national interest.”
