BCDA assures public as Pax Silica eyes 3-GW daily power demand

Chrislyne Faith Castillo

Government officials on July 23 sought to ease public concerns over the proposed Pax Silica project after revealing that the planned technology and manufacturing hub could require up to three gigawatts, or about three million kilowatts, of electricity each day once fully operational.

The projected power demand, disclosed by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang during a Palace press briefing, comes as the project continues to face scrutiny over its possible environmental impact.

Bingcang, however, said the development intends to meet much of the project’s energy demand through renewable sources, with solar power expected to serve as its primary source of electricity instead of fossil fuels.

He added that BCDA is planning embedded power facilities within New Clark City as part of the project’s long-term energy strategy.

According to Bingcang, the agency is also studying other clean-energy options to complement the project’s future electricity requirements.

Sustainability measures outlined

Addressing environmental concerns, Bingcang said sustainability has been incorporated into the project’s master plan, including the preservation of open spaces and the adoption of environmentally responsible resource management.

He clarified that Pax Silica is envisioned as a manufacturing-driven industrial ecosystem rather than a development centered solely on data centers, saying that environmental sustainability remains part of its overall design.

“Bagamat 1,600 hectares po ‘yan pero under our masterplan, kailangan at least 40 percent ay open space… Magkakaroon tayo ng sustainable water management po d’yan at itong clean and green energy,” Bingcang said.

He said at least 40 percent of the proposed 1,600-hectare development will remain as open space under the master plan.

Bingcang also responded to claims that the project’s planned data centers could consume large amounts of water.

Rainwater harvesting

Responding to claims that the project could exhaust available water supplies, Bingcang said BCDA plans to rely on surface water harvesting by collecting and storing rainwater instead of extracting groundwater or drawing from existing community water systems.

“Sabi ang Pax Silica project baka ubusin ang tubig because of the data centers na ilalagay. Maaaring mag-invite tayo ng data center but it’s not all about data center… Ang target namin d’yan ay surface water harvesting. Ang ibig sabihin niyan, lalo na po ngayon papasok na po ang rainy season, huge amount volume of rainwater dumadapo po d’yan,” he said.

Bingcang said BCDA plans to utilize a surface water harvesting system that will collect and store rainwater to help meet the project’s water requirements.

He added that the project’s initial design is capable of supplying up to 120 million liters of water per day, exceeding its estimated daily requirement of 65 million to 90 million liters, with capacity that can still be expanded.

The proposed Pax Silica development forms part of the Luzon Economic Corridor, which aims to position the Philippines as a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging industries.