{{Short description|Dam in Luzon, Philippines}} {{Infobox dam | name = Casecnan Irrigation and Hydroelectric Plant | name_official = | image = CasecnanDamjf8640 02.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = Casecnan Irrigation and Power Generation Project Rizal, Nueva Ecija | image_alt = | location_map = Philippines Nueva Ecija#Luzon mainland#Philippines | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|16.0024|N|121.3324|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | country = Philippines | location = | status = | construction_began = 1995 | opening = 2002 | demolished = | cost = $ 600 Million or 28.07 Billion pesos (at current price) | owner = National Power Corporation<br>National Irrigation Administration | dam_type = | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = | dam_height = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_crosses = '''Casecnan Irrigation and Power Generation Project''' (Rizal, Nueva Ecija) | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = | res_capacity_total = {{convert|802000000|m3|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_elevation = | res_max_depth = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_tidal_range = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = 2002 | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = 140 MW | plant_annual_gen = 425,000,000 kWh | website = | extra = }}

'''Casecnan Irrigation and Hydroelectric Plant''' is a dam diverting water from the Casecnan and Taan Rivers to the Pantabangan Reservoir through a {{convert|26|km|adj=on}} long tunnel located near Pantabangan and Muñoz in Nueva Ecija province of the Philippines. The multi-purpose dam provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation while its reservoir affords flood control. It was considered one of the most expensive hydroelectric plants built in the country,<ref name=jcmiras>{{cite web |title=The 150 MW Casecnan Hydroelectric Power Plant |url=http://www.jcmiras.net/surge/p171.htm |accessdate=24 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429230325/http://www.jcmiras.net/surge/p171.htm |archivedate=29 April 2012 }}</ref> being next only to San Roque Dam.

The Casecnan Irrigation and Power Generation Project is also located in Rizal, Nueva Ecija. The P6.75-B Project provides irrigation to 26,920 hectares of new farms in the Science City of Munoz, Talugtog, Guimba, Cuyapo, and Nampicuan, all of Nueva Ecija. It generates 150 megawatts of power for the Luzon grid that will supply cheap electricity to millions of people in Luzon including Metro Manila.[http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=LocalWonders&Page=1&pid=4353][https://web.archive.org/web/20120429230325/http://www.jcmiras.net/surge/p171.htm]

==History== In August 1987, former President Corazon Aquino signed Executive Order 136, which provides for the establishment of a Watershed Forest Reserve out of the Casecnan River. The reserve covered an area of {{convert|57930|ha}}.<ref name=controversial/> By May 1993, former President Fidel Ramos sought out investors to fund the Casecnan Phased Transbasin Project. It became one of the flagship programs of the Ramos government and by 1995, the Casecnan Project got approved for construction.<ref name=controversial/> In September 2001, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo finally opened the diversion tunnel after two years after the Phase I of the Casecnan project was done.<ref name=controversial/> In 2012, the Aquino government approved the construction of the second phase of the Casecnan project.<ref name=MB/>

==Power generation== When the Ramos government approved the start of the Casecnan project, the constructed power plant was planned to have produced 150&nbsp;megawatts.<ref name=controversial>{{cite web|title=The Controversial Casecnan Project|url=http://www.eca-watch.org/problems/asia_pacific/philippines/casecnan_fieldreport.pdf|accessdate=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014164610/http://www.eca-watch.org/problems/asia_pacific/philippines/casecnan_fieldreport.pdf|archive-date=14 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, it only produced 140&nbsp;megawatts after the power plant began operation.<ref name=DOT>{{cite web|title=Local Wonders|url=http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=LocalWonders&func=all&pid=4353&tbl=0|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref>

==Irrigation== The original output for irrigation of Casecnan was the irrigation of around {{convert|50000|ha}} of farmland.<ref name=controversial/> It currently irrigates {{convert|26920|ha}} in Nueva Ecija and {{convert|55000|ha}} in Pampanga.<ref name=DOT/> The Aquino government laid seven billion pesos to further enlarge the irrigation capacity of Casecnan which was planned to irrigate an additional {{convert|20231|ha}} of land in Nueva Ecija and another {{convert|40000|ha}} in Pampanga by its completion in 2016.<ref name=MB>{{cite news |last=Manuel |first=Mark Anthony |title=NEDA OKs P7-B Irrigation Project |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/node/355802/neda-ok |accessdate=24 August 2012 |newspaper=Manila Bulletin |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016053702/http://www.mb.com.ph/node/355802/neda-ok |archivedate=16 October 2012 }}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Philippines|Water|Renewable energy}}}} * Casecnan Protected Landscape

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}} *[http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=LocalWonders&Page=1&pid=4353 Casecnan Irrigation and Power Generation Project]

{{Dams in the Philippines}}

Category:Dams in the Philippines Category:Hydroelectric power plants in the Philippines Category:Dams completed in 2002 Category:2002 establishments in the Philippines Category:Buildings and structures in Nueva Ecija