Philippine tribe in limbo over US-led tech hub

In Capas, Philippines, tribal leader Petronila Munoz, leader of the Aeta Hungey tribe, grappled with the uncertainty of her tribe's future as a US-led tech hub called Pax Silica takes shape. The 1,620-hectare site, designated in New Clark City, Tarlac province, aims to produce high-end components for AI data centers, potentially attracting $70 billion in investment and creating 190,000 jobs.

However, the BCDA, responsible for the project, has not provided clarity on the impact on the Aeta tribe's land and livelihood. The tribe received a notice in July warning their lands could be affected, and they were given 30 pesos ($0.48) per square meter to leave by December. The BCDA has offered no master plan and declined to address specific questions about the Aetas' situation.

The project's potential environmental impact, particularly water and energy demands, has also raised concerns. For the Aeta tribe, the possibility of displacement and losing their ancestral land is deeply troubling, with 63-year-old Munoz expressing her disbelief at having to sacrifice her home for the development.