MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has put on hold the budget deliberations for the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for fiscal year 2027 due to unresolved issues concerning the Pax Silica initiative and the displacement of indigenous peoples (IP) in Clark.
The decision came during the early hours of Saturday, September 19, amidst ongoing plenary debates on the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 General Appropriations Bill, following a motion by Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio to halt the agency’s hearing.
Minority lawmakers raised serious questions regarding the proposed Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park, highlighting the lack of finalized agreements and the absence of clear protections for affected local communities.
Akbayan Party-list Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula criticized the BCDA for proceeding with initial groundwork and issuing displacement notices to residents and indigenous families despite lacking a concrete framework.
“Are we being taken for a ride with this project? It’s extremely concerning na nag hard launch na ang BCDA, nagnotify na sa mga katutubo at residenteng madidisplace, pero sa dulo, wala pa palang konkretong agreement ang proyektong ito,” Ismula said.
Lawmakers noted that the Pax Silica initiative remains a highly contentious topic within Congress. Ismula further questioned whether the authority possesses adequate safeguards to protect Filipino laborers and indigenous rights as preparatory work nears.
“Ang 2027 budget ng BCDA ang Year 0 bago magsimula ang construction. Yet, mukhang wala pa palang kapangyarihan ang lead agency para masigurong ang mga Pilipino talaga ang magbebenefit at hindi ang mga dayuhan,” Ismula said.
The lawmaker demanded that the BCDA present legally binding agreements ensuring adherence to labor laws, respect for native land rights, and strict oversight mechanisms for foreign firms. Ismula warned that allocating government funds without finalized contracts puts the country at financial risk.
“Malinaw naman sa ating mga Pinoy na kung hindi nakataga sa bato ang mga pangako, posibleng mapapako. Baka mauwi lang sa pambubudol ang mga pangakong high-quality jobs, mga pangakong world-class technology transfer kung wala pa naman palang agreement,” he added.
Defending its budget through its sponsor, the BCDA clarified that formal deals for the Pax Silica project have yet to be finalized. The agency assured Congress that no local workers, farmers, or indigenous communities would be compromised should the project advance, adding that all foreign businesses entering the zone will remain fully subject to Philippine laws.
Launched in late 2025, Pax Silica is a United States-led international coalition focused on securing supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The Philippines joined the partnership in April 2026, designating a 4,000-acre Economic Security Zone within New Clark City to serve as a manufacturing and technology hub.