DENR: No environmental impact assessment yet for Pax Silica hub in Tarlac

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed on Wednesday that there's no environmental impact assessment (EIA) processed yet on the controversial Pax Silica hub in New Clark City in Tarlac.

During the briefing on the proposed P28 billion budget for DENR in 2027, Assistant Minority Leader and Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co asked the department if there was already an EIA processed for the project.

"Mukhang priority project ito ng PBBM administration, may natapos na po bang environmental impact assessment tungkol sa Pax Silica? " she asked.

The DENR chief admitted that there's none at the moment.

"There's been no environmental impact assessment applied for or processed this time. In fact, there's no clear project description actually that we are aware of at this time. For us to be able to intelligently assess any environmental impact, the project description should be clear. But as of now, there's been none that has been submitted to the EMB," said DENR acting secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.

Pax Silica is the US Department of State's flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.

Under the initiative, the Philippines and the United States are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub envisioned as a model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Progressive and environmental groups have raised concerns over the project's potential environmental and social impacts.

But Environmental Management Bureau Director Michael Drake Matias said that an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) was issued instead for the development plan by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

"But if we are going to look at the project as mentioned in the reports, yung 1,600 hectares, wala pa pong specific projects that will be allocated doon sa area," he said.

It can be recalled that the Palace assured that no farmers will be displaced as the 3,500-hectare area allotted for buildable zones includes the site identified for the Pax Silica project, while around 6,000 hectares have been reserved for green spaces, forest reserves, and planned agricultural areas.

Nothing to be scared of

Palawan Representative Jose Alvarez said that the public should not be scared of the Pax Silica initiative.

"For the information of the public, yung Pax Silica is a chance in a lifetime. Yung tinatakot natin na 60 million liters ang kailangan sa isang araw, kung i-combine mo ‘yung discharge ng all Zambales rivers into the ocean, every second is equivalent to that 60 million liters. That’s only equivalent to 60,000 cubic meters," he said.

However, Co disagreed with her colleague's sentiment.

"With all due respect, maraming may concern sa Pax Silica dahil aside from tubig, sa kuryente, sa lupa, maraming compounded concerns 'yan. And we are looking at the DENR to resolve some of these concerns," she said. –NB, GMA News