Gov’t vows ‘fast, fair’ processing for Pax Silica

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) said on Tuesday it stands ready to ensure that projects within the contentious Pax Silica hub are processed quickly while remaining “completely aligned with the national interest” of the Philippines.

In a statement, the agency that oversees the government’s antired tape and ease-of-doing-business policies, said it was already working with regulators across the semiconductor ecosystem to streamline processing times, compliance costs and interagency procedures for the planned industrial hub in New Clark City.

READ: Pax Silica to boost semiconductor industry

This could give prospective investors greater regulatory certainty as the Philippine government seeks to attract capital into Pax Silica, a United States-led initiative aimed at securing supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors and other advanced technologies.

“This will ensure that government regulations must not only protect the environment but also provide for a business-enabling environment to attract investors,” the Arta said. “Pax Silica is an opportunity for the Philippines to take the lead for future technology.”

So far, no locators have been confirmed for the planned Pax Silica hub in Tarlac, as the framework that will govern the site is still under negotiation. The government, however, previously said it was eyeing Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn as a potential anchor locator.

Nevertheless, the agency expressed its full support for the proposed development, which it described as an advanced manufacturing complex focused on wafer fabrication, chip design and critical minerals processing.

The Arta also reiterated the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s position that the 1,619-hectare development will not be a hub for hyperscale data centers.

READ: Pax Silica hub to bring P180B in gov’t income, 190,000 jobs – BCDA

Instead, the government is positioning it as a hub for capital-intensive, higher-value manufacturing that could help the Philippine semiconductor industry move further up the global technology value chain.

The Arta also touted projections that Pax Silica could attract between $40 billion and $70 billion in domestic and foreign investments and create higher-skilled jobs for Filipino engineers, researchers, computer science professionals and technical workers.

But the agency stressed that faster government processing would not mean relaxing regulatory requirements for Pax Silica projects.

READ: Pax Silica deal eyed before potential Trump visit

The Arta said that under the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, streamlining should improve the speed and efficiency of government processes but “does not authorize the disregard for statutory mandates.”

Neither would it compromise legal, environmental and social safeguards under the Constitution, including the public’s rights to due process and participation, the agency added.

Looking ahead, the Arta said it would continue coordinating with other government regulators, local governments and the private sector to make the regulatory environment surrounding Pax Silica “fast, fair and transparent.” INQ