Pampanga school questions Pax Silica project

A Roman Catholic school in Pampanga has raised serious concerns over the proposed Pax Silica project, urging a temporary halt to the initiative until critical environmental, social, and governance issues are resolved. St. Scholastica’s Academy (SSA) in San Fernando, Pampanga, issued an official statement on Saturday, calling for greater transparency and public engagement ahead of the 1,620-hectare project in Capas, Tarlac, which is part of the larger New Clark City development. SSA acknowledged the potential economic benefits of the project but stressed that its environmental and social impacts must not be ignored. The academy argued that no development should proceed without full transparency, meaningful public participation, and clear assurances regarding its broader implications. It highlighted that while government agencies claim the project could attract up to $70 billion in investment and create over 130,000 jobs, many essential questions remain unanswered. Among these concerns are the lack of a publicly available and comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, incomplete information on the project’s long-term water and energy demands, and insufficient understanding of its effects on nearby regions, including Pampanga. The school noted that requests under the government’s Freedom of Information (FOI) program for project maps and detailed plans had been denied due to ongoing negotiations and planning processes. Pampanga is already grappling with water quality and security issues, urban congestion, and environmental degradation. SSA pointed out that data centers and AI infrastructure globally require vast amounts of electricity and water for cooling and operation. It questioned where the necessary power would come from, how the project might affect the water table in Central Luzon, and how agricultural sustainability could be preserved. The school also raised concerns about the project's ability to deliver on its promises, asking who would control the technologies, resources, and governance structures within Pax Silica. Drawing on the Rule of St. Benedict and Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si’, SSA emphasized that economic development must safeguard human dignity, protect ecosystems, and serve the common good. In response, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and CEO, Joshua Bingcang, recently dismissed some of the criticisms surrounding the project. He stated that the concerns raised did not undermine the viability of the initiative. Despite these dismissals, SSA called for immediate release of all environmental, social, and economic impact studies related to the project. It also demanded meaningful consultations with affected communities, Indigenous peoples, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and local government units. The academy further urged independent scientific evaluations of the project’s projected water and energy usage. Additionally, SSA requested full transparency on agreements concerning land use, national sovereignty, and foreign involvement. It recommended a moratorium on the project’s implementation until these matters are thoroughly examined and adequately addressed. As the debate over Pax Silica intensifies, the situation reflects growing tensions between rapid development and the need for sustainable, community-driven progress. With multiple stakeholders weighing in, the outcome of these discussions will likely shape the future trajectory of the project.