The proposed Pax Silica artificial intelligence (AI) industrial hub in Tarlac will not affect farmers, a Palace official said.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro pointed out that no farmers will be affected by the development of the controversial AI hub as there should no longer be farmers in the area approved as "buildable zones."

Castro explained that since the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019, "buildable areas have already been established and allocated."

"So, sa lugar na ito ay dapat wala ng farmers dahil ito po nga ay na-approve na bilang buildable zones (Therefore, there should no longer be farmers in these areas because they have already been approved as buildable zones)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Aug. 3.

"At mayroon naman pong natitira na 6,000 hectares na reserve para sa open green spaces, forest reserves and designated zones for upland farming (There are still 6,000 hectares reserved for open green spaces, forest reserves, and designated zones for upland farming)," Castro added.

The Palace official further pointed out that the project will occupy only "a relatively small portion of the area."

"So, maliit lang po ang maookupa nito – 3,500 hectares ang kabuuan ng buildable zones at doon po maaaring ilagay itong proyekto regarding Pax Silica (The project will occupy only a relatively small portion of the area. The total buildable zones cover 3,500 hectares, and this is where the proposed Pax Silica project may be located)," Castro said.

"So, hindi po makakaapekto ito sa ating mga farmers (So, this project will not affect our farmers)," she stressed.

The Palace spokesperson made the remarks when sought for reaction to Senator Imee Marcos' call for an investigation into complaints that farmers are allegedly being ordered to stop planting and are facing intimidation as the government continues its pursuit of the Pax Silica initiative.

Castro said the President's sister is free to pursue any investigation on the project, but told her that "it would be better if she were aware of the issue being discussed."

"Hindi naman napipigil si Senator Imee sa kaniyang mga gusto at siguro mas maganda po na malaman niya kasi ang pinag-uusapan dito ay mga farmers (Senator Imee is certainly not being prevented from pursuing the matters she wants to raise. Perhaps it would be better if she were aware that the issue being discussed here concerns the farmers)," she said.

Castro also reiterated that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the state-run firm overseeing the development of the Pax Silica initiative, "is open to consultations."

"Sa ngayon po binanggit ko po noong nakaraan ang BCDA po ay open po at sa ngayon po ay patuloy po ang kanilang pagkokonsulta sa mga concerned agencies, concerned local government units, sa lahat ng stakeholders (As I mentioned previously, the BCDA is open to consultations. At present, it continues to engage with the concerned government agencies, local government units, and all other stakeholders)," Castro said.

"Kaya ito po ay nabanggit natin para sa lahat ng may mga concerns ay maaari pong makipag-ugnayan sa ating pamahalaan para matugunan kung ano ang mga issues na dapat pang iresolba (We have emphasized this so that anyone with concerns may coordinate with the government, allowing any remaining issues to be addressed and resolved)," Castro said.

Pax Silica Industrial Hub is planned for development on a stretch of land roughly 1,620 hectares inside New Clark City, Tarlac.

The Philippines joined the US-led international coalition launched in December 2025 to secure supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence technologies.

The project has been steadily opposed by a coalition of farmer groups, environmental scientists and advocates, who raise various concerns such as mass displacement, water scarcity, mining expansion and pollution, food security, economic dependency, and sovereignty and legal jurisdiction.