South Korea’s state-run Korea Water Resources Corp (K-water) and Philippine utility Maynilad Water Services have secured original proponent status for a water infrastructure project in the Philippines valued at over 1 trillion won ($740 million).

The joint venture will build and operate water-source, distribution, and wastewater-treatment infrastructure for New Clark City, a 94.5-square-kilometre development 100 kilometres northwest of Manila. The Philippines currently operates with a national water supply coverage rate of approximately 40 percent, making stable utility provision a primary constraint for the new municipality, which is designed to house 860,000 residents and ease congestion in the capital.

To address the region’s constricted water supply and high leakage rates, the consortium’s proposal relies on embedded operational technology and physical infrastructure. The project includes the construction of the Philippines’ first underground water-storage dam and a water treatment plant capable of autonomous control. The distribution network will integrate IoT sensors and edge analytics to monitor flow rates and pressure in real time, forming a smart management system designed to detect leaks and minimise non-revenue water losses.

Joshua Bingcang, president and CEO of the Philippine Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), issued the certification to K-water on Monday. Under Philippine public-private partnership regulations, the project must now undergo a Swiss Challenge, a procurement process that allows competing firms to submit alternative bids while granting the original proponent the right to match the superior offer.

The initial phase of the infrastructure rollout is valued at 350 billion won.

“We will complete the remaining procedures and help provide New Clark City with a stable water supply,” K-water CEO Yoon Seog-dae said.