The governments of South Korea and Japan are exploring underground dams as an option for the water supply of New Clark City, Tarlac, according to Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and CEO Joshua Bingcang.

“They will be presenting their feasibility studies for underground dams. I think these will be the first in the country and it will be a huge foreign investment for us,” Bingcang said on DAILY TRIBUNE’s show Straight Talk last Wednesday.

In July, the BCDA announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Korean Water Resources Corp., or K-Water, to conduct a feasibility study on a sustainable water supply for New Clark City.

Bingcang expects the study to be presented this month and provide insights on smart water technologies and efficient sewerage systems.

The water initiative is seen to benefit a projected population of over 600,000 people in New Clark City, a mixed-use development spanning 9,450 hectares that will be partly occupied by food, sports and recreational facilities and government offices.

The United Nations reported that one in 10 Filipinos does not have access to water which its analysts said could go higher if the El Niño intensifies due to climate change.

Based on the 2023 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Sustainability Report, the country’s industries could lose P645 billion each year if climate change worsens.