BCDA ready for senate inquiry into Pax Silica

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the lead Philippine agency for the proposed Pax Silica hub, said it was ready to participate in a “fair and transparent discussion” should the Senate formally investigate the controversial New Clark City project.

Their statement came after Sen. Imee Marcos on Sunday called for a Senate inquiry into the United States-backed initiative, citing concerns over its potential impact on farmers, indigenous communities, and electricity and water supply.

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In a statement on Monday, the BCDA said it acknowledged the senator’s concerns but maintained that both farmers and Aeta communities stand to benefit from the project.

“As New Clark City grows, so too will opportunities for farmers and Ayta communities around it,” the agency said. “These efforts will expand employment and strengthen sustainable livelihoods for farmers and Ayta communities in New Clark City.”

Marcos, in a statement posted on social media, urged the BCDA to first conduct extensive consultations with residents of Capas, Tarlac, before surveying areas for possible acquisition.

Citing unnamed reports, the senator said the proposed 1,619-hectare project, which is projected to attract between $40 billion and $70 billion in investments, could affect 92 farmers and members of the Aeta community.

The site is currently managed by the BCDA, the government-owned and -controlled corporation tasked with converting former military bases into productive civilian assets.

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“Hindi dapat mawalan ng lupa ang mga nagpapakain sa bayan nang hindi man lang nabibigyan ng sapat na paliwanag at pagkakataong marinig (Those who feed the nation should not lose their land without being given a proper explanation and a chance to be heard),” Marcos had said.

Responding to the concerns, the BCDA said another meeting with Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriguez, local government officials and other stakeholders has been scheduled this week.

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The agency also said New Clark City already includes areas dedicated to agriculture, including a 50-hectare agricultural zone and the 10-hectare Ayta Ethnobotanical Center, which was launched last year to benefit about 300 Ayta farmers from Capas and Bamban and is planned to expand to 50 hectares.

The BCDA added that another 100 hectares have been identified for future agricultural development.

Without directly addressing the reported displacement of Aeta communities, the BCDA said it has identified relocation sites within New Clark City for affected households “to minimize disruption to their daily lives and help ensure they continue to be part and benefit from New Clark City’s growth.”

Separately, Akbayan party list last week filed House Resolution No. 1227 seeking a congressional inquiry into the Philippines’ participation in Pax Silica, arguing that the project’s “fast-tracking” is “deeply troubling.”

The Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative only in April. Negotiations between Manila and Washington on the project’s governance framework are expected to conclude by November, while BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang has said construction of the first phase could begin by 2028.

“BCDA remains committed to ensuring that development is inclusive, responsible, and creates lasting opportunities for every community that calls New Clark City home,” the agency said. INQ