The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the state-run firm overseeing the development of the Pax Silica artificial intelligence (AI) industrial hub, said farmers affected by the project may find work opportunities in New Clark City.

In a statement on Monday, Aug. 3, the BCDA said it has already designated several areas for modern agriculture projects within the 9,450-hectare (ha) New Clark City property in Capas, Tarlac, that are designed to support farmers.

These areas include a 50-ha agricultural zone, the 10-ha Ayta Ethnobotanical Center, and hundreds of hectares for future agricultural development, according to the agency.

The BCDA said it has also allocated relocation areas within New Clark City to minimize disruption to households affected by the project.

“Together, these efforts will expand employment and strengthen sustainable livelihoods for farmers and Ayta communities in New Clark City,” the BCDA said. “As New Clark City grows, so too will opportunities for farmers and Ayta communities around it.”

New Clark City is at the center of the planned development of an AI industrial hub to be developed by the United States (US) and the Philippines under the Pax Silica partnership, which aims to secure the materials necessary for the global AI supply chain.

Spanning more than 1,600 ha, the project is expected to become a major investment hub for advanced manufacturing, critical mineral processing, and digital infrastructure such as data centers.

While details of the plan are still being evaluated, the project is already drawing criticism over its potential impact on energy, agriculture, and the environment, as well as its potential to displace nearby communities.

For one, local scientists’ group Agham said the BCDA has already issued an initial list of persons to be displaced by the project, including several farmers and indigenous peoples (IPs).

Agham said the displacement, which can take the form of direct physical relocation or indirect displacement through the loss of livelihood, is expected to “undoubtedly affect the livelihoods of farmers both inside and outside the project area.”

Citing reports, Senator Imee Marcos said more than 90 farmers will be displaced by the project. As such, the lawmaker has called on the BCDA to explain the project’s impact before any development can begin.

In response, the BCDA said it welcomes the Senate’s oversight of the matter, noting that it stands ready to provide the facts needed for a transparent discussion.

Likewise, the agency said it will meet again with Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriguez, alongside other local government units and stakeholders, to “listen, engage, and discuss the path forward together.”

“BCDA remains committed to ensuring that development is inclusive, responsible, and creates lasting opportunities for every community that calls New Clark City home,” the BCDA said.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joshua Bingcang said last month that the AI industrial hub is expected to attract up to $70 billion worth of investments, generating around 130,000 jobs.

Bingcang noted that the US and the Philippines plan to conclude contract negotiations for the project within the year, followed by the planning stage next year and construction around the first quarter of 2028.