BCDA estimates P30M cost to relocate New Clark City settlers for Pax Silica

BAGUIO – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has reached a “general understanding” with communities in New Clark City on their relocation to make way for the planned Pax Silica project, with P30 million allocated for housing and alternative farmland.

According to BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang, the agency already met with the local government unit (LGU) in Capas, Tarlac, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the local communities for the on-site relocation.

“Kinonsent na namin ‘yung design, nagustuhan na nila ‘yung design. Landed siya, house and lot, kasi hindi sila sanay sa condo, so house and lot. ‘Yun ang gusto nila,” he told reporters in Baguio City.

(We already asked for consent for the design. They liked the design. It is landed, house and lot, because they are not used to condominiums. That is what they want.)

Bingcang said the BCDA plans to build about 50 housing units on a 10-hectare site outside the proposed 1,600-hectare Pax Silica hub site but still within the 9,450-hectare New Clark City. The agency has set aside a buffer to accommodate potential increases in the claimants.

At an estimated P500,000 per unit, the total cost was conservatively estimated at P25 million and could reach P30 million, which the BCDA would shoulder at no cost to the farmers who have raised claims.

The farmers will also be given access to 100 hectares of alternative agricultural land, which will be part of a 3,000-hectare no-build zone reserved for open spaces, forest conservation and urban farming.

They could also be employed by the BCDA, which has a modern farming project in the area that may need about 200 farmers.

“They will need 200 farmers, so potentially baka mag-import pa kami ng farmers sa labas (we might import farmers from outside),” Bingcang said.

EXPLAINER: What is Pax Silica and why are people worried?

The Pax Silica initiative, announced in April, is a US-led effort to build a network of allied supply chains for critical technologies and minerals. The master agreement is expected to be signed in November.

“As far as BCDA is concerned, we want it to be signed soon as part of the regular business contracts that we are pursuing for Clark property,” Bingcang said.

The Pax Silica hub will also house the Clark Advanced Manufacturing Plant (CAMP), with an initial $10-billion investment target to kickstart short-term site development and initial facility construction. It is also expected to generate up to 150,000 direct high-value jobs, some 50,000 construction jobs, and up to 800,000 indirect jobs.

Officials earlier clarified that the Pax Silica initiative will not include data centers, as its main objective is to process the country’s minerals and make high-tech components for AI and semiconductors. –NB, GMA News