15th December 2025
SWA’s international Networking Club members, HSL Constructor and TeamSolve Deliver Palawan’s First Modular Water Treatment Plant.
Singapore, 15 December 2025 – The Singapore Water Association (SWA) today highlighted the successful completion of Palawan’s first modular water treatment plant (WTP) in El Nido, Philippines, delivered by its International Networking Club members, HSL Constructor and TeamSolve in collaboration with local partner Power4All (Earth Lab) for the Municipal Government of El Nido. This solution delivers much needed sustainable water supply to smaller communities in remote areas and islands especially in Southeast Asia impacted by more frequent droughts and floodings due climate change.
The 3-million-litres-per-day (MLD) system now supplies safe, potable water to more than 50,000 residents and tourists, strengthening water security in an island municipality facing increasing pressure from climate variability, water scarcity and rising demand across Southeast Asia.
The project was announced in a joint press statement by HSL Constructor, TeamSolve and Power4All on 8 December 2025, and reflects how Singapore companies are increasingly working across complementary capabilities to deliver climate-adaptive water solutions overseas, supported by industry platforms such as SWA’s Internationalisation Networking Club (INC) and aligned with the objectives of the Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water (SEAPAW).
Addressing Water Stress in Climate-Vulnerable Communities
Across Southeast Asia, climate change is driving more erratic rainfall, prolonged dry periods and mounting pressure on limited freshwater sources. Island municipalities such as El Nido, constrained by geography, tourism growth and legacy infrastructure, face heightened challenges in maintaining a stable and reliable water supply.
Reflecting on the project’s importance, Ms Edna Gacot-Lim, Mayor of El Nido, said:
“The modular water treatment plant is a transformative development for El Nido. It strengthens our water security, supports our residents and tourism sector, and improves overall public health. We thank our partners for working closely with us to make this project a reality.”
A Model of Innovation Enabled by Collaboration
As the first modular water treatment plant deployed in Palawan, the system represents a significant technological milestone for the province. The plant was designed and fabricated by HSL Constructor, implemented with Power4All (through its subsidiary Earth Lab), and supported by TeamSolve’s AI-enabled operations and maintenance platform.
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Mr Chen Feng, Head of Water at HSL Constructor, said:
“This project demonstrates the value of modular engineering in accelerating water security for remote and climate-sensitive communities. By integrating design, fabrication, testing and logistics into a containerised system, we were able to shorten construction timelines while delivering a reliable and high-quality solution for the municipality.”
As the main contractor and local implementation partner, Power4All played a key role in project planning and on-the-ground delivery. Mr Angelo Valenton, President of Power4All, said:
“The close coordination between our local team and international partners such as HSL and TeamSolve was critical to the success of this project. Together, we delivered a reliable water solution for El Nido, and we look forward to supporting similar projects for other municipalities in the Philippines.”
Figure 1: Group photo of El Nido municipal officials, Earth Lab/Power4All, and HSL representatives during the Inauguration and Blessing of the 3 MLD Modular WTP – photo provided by HSL Constructor
Mr Robin Wong, Founder and CCO of TeamSolve, said:
“Digital innovation is key to sustaining water operations in remote and manpower-limited environments. At TeamSolve, our AI-powered platform — anchored by the Knowledge Twin™ – enables prescriptive maintenance, remote operational support, and rapid knowledge capture. These digital capabilities elevate current solutions and help water operators ensure long-term reliability and resilience for island and rural communities.”
The project was officially inaugurated and blessed on 28 November 2025 by the Municipal Government of El Nido.
Figure 2: Ms. Edna Gacot-Lim (second from left), Mayor of El Nido, tasting the product water during the inauguration ceremony, accompanied by other government officials. – photo provided by HSL Constructo
Supporting Regional Climate Adaptation Through Water
Commenting on the broader significance of the project, Mr Charles Quek, Vice President (General Affairs) of the Singapore Water Association, said: “This project reflects how Singapore companies can work across complementary strengths to deliver practical water solutions for climate-vulnerable communities in the region. Through platforms such as SWA’s Internationalisation Networking Club, and in alignment with initiatives like SEAPAW, companies are better positioned to collaborate, scale their capabilities overseas, and contribute meaningfully to Southeast Asia’s climate adaptation efforts through water.”
As climate impacts intensify from rainfall variability to rising demand; modular, resilient and digitally enabled water systems will play an increasingly important role in securing reliable water supply for rural, coastal and island communities across the region.