Singaporean firm bags Ecija dam project

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines – An energy company based in Singapore has been given the go-signal by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to undertake the P13.6-billion Balintingon reservoir multi-purpose project that can potentially irrigate 63,000 hectares of agricultural lands in southern Nueva Ecija and other parts of Central Luzon.

NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel said the NIA board has approved the application of Kaltimex Energy (Singapore) Ltd. (KES) to carry out the project subject to certain conditions.

He said a technical working group has been created to oversee the operations of KES.

Lawyer Genever Dionio, NIA’s legal department chief, said KES’ application was approved on condition that it would submit documents showing its legal, technical and financial capability to undertake the project this month or early next month.

The project’s potential service area of 63,000 hectares will cover the towns of Cabiao, Gen. Tinio, Peñaranda, San Isidro and Sta. Rosa and the cities of Cabanatuan and Gapan, all in Nueva Ecija; San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael in Bulacan; and Arayat in Pampanga.