Ang’s Eagle Cement earmarks 16.5-B capex

Eagle Cement Corporation, a local cement manufacturer controlled by the Ang family, is investing R6.5 billion this year for the construction of additional facilities to increase its capacity further.

In an interview after the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting, Eagle Cement President Paul Ang said the company expects its line 3 in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to be fully operational by the third quarter of the year, adding 2 million metric tons on its capacity to 7.1 million by year end.

The additional capacity will expand Eagle's market reach in the Luzon area to the Bicol and MIMAROPA regions.

“The opening of our third production line will allow us to better serve new markets in Regions IV and V. This will give our company an increased role in the country’s infrastructure push, as we help build the future of Filipino communities,” Ang said.

Ang said Eagle's outlook for the local cement sector remains bullish.

Apart from the completion of its third production line, the company is also working on its fourth production line in Malabuyoc, Cebu, giving Eagle nationwide by tapping into the Visayas and Mindanao markets.

“Private consumption is still strong as conglomerates embark on expansion strategies, and the government remains steadfast in its national infrastructure push,” Ang said.

He added that, “all of our efforts are geared towards helping provide the cement demand of the local economy, through quality products that will become part of the country’s future.”

Eagle Chief Finance Officer Monica Ang-Mercado said the completion of the 2 million metric ton-capacity line 4 in Cebu will then bring the company's total output to 9.1 million metric tons by 2020.