Northern Cement Corporation (NCC), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), was recognized at the 2025 Asian Water Awards for its large-scale water conservation and wastewater recycling initiatives.
NCC received the “Water Conservation Initiative of the Year” award after saving 212,000 cubic meters of water and reusing 22.7 million liters of treated wastewater in 2024, thanks to its 200,000-cubic-meter rainwater harvesting pond and advanced wastewater treatment facility in Pangasinan.
The company’s initiatives generated over US$4.7 million in total savings, while 54.9% of its potable water supply came from harvested rainwater, adding US$35,396 in savings.
Beyond operational gains, NCC’s water projects have helped mitigate flooding, support biodiversity, and benefit nearby communities. Native aquatic species such as edible shells, freshwater crabs, and dragonflies have returned to restored waterways, while a recent survey recorded 42 bird species and sightings of the Philippine long-tailed macaque within NCC’s concession area.
NCC also partners with local schools and farmers’ groups to promote water-saving practices, installing rainwater catchment systems and providing tanks to 12 sites under the National Greening Program. Over 200 volunteers join regular creek cleanup drives, while plastic waste is processed through the company’s co-processing system.
The company’s program complies with the Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275) and holds ISO 14001:2015 certification. NCC has also received several national and regional citations, including the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (2024) and the DENR-MGB Region I Best Performing Mining Contractor awards for 2024 and 2025.