Malacañang: Pax Silica Plan Provisions Open to Change Amid Public Concerns

Malacañang on Thursday called on the public to direct any issues about the planned development of Pax Silica industrial tech hub to concerned government agencies, saying that provisions of the United States-led initiative may still be adjusted accordingly. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government will put into consideration all concerns regarding Pax Silica, specifically pertaining to how it may affect the country’s water and electricity supplies. “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,” she said in a Palace briefing. (There’s a possibility that some provisions could be changed to yield better outcomes for our citizens, the country, and of course our partners. That will be taken into consideration.) “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 added. (For those who have issues regarding Pax Silica, it would be better if you would talk to the concerned agencies so that whatever problems you think may arise, these can be resolved.) Castro also shrugged off the possibility that this may send a negative message towards investors, considering that certain provisions are supposedly still not cast in stone. “Hindi naman po dahil ngayon po ay talagang inaayos natin.” (This may not be the case because we’re really fixing this now.) In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the Pax Silica---—an AI-focused industrial complex spanning 1,600 hectares in New Clark City in Tarlac—will benefit Filipinos by providing quality jobs. Sara Duterte viral video Castro also refused to comment on the viral video of Vice President Sara Duterte where she was asked to share her thoughts about Pax Silica. “I have no comment.” Pressed why she would not comment on the matter, the Palace official said, “Nakita naman natin sa video. So ano pa ba ang kailangan i-explain? So hayaan nalang po natin.” (We saw it in the video. So what else needs to be explained? Let’s just leave it at that.) In a video shared by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to members of the media, Duterte was seemingly caught off guard after she was asked to comment on the Pax Silica hub, saying she would not comment on it. —RF, GMA News