BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) does not mind at all the criticism on the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Phase II (JRMP-II) in Calinog, Iloilo.
Actual construction will start February next year until “late 2017,” said Gerardo Corsiga, regional manager of NIA.
Criticism is normal, said Corsiga. Opposition to JRMP-II motivates them to work hard every day.
“Magtabangay kita (Let us help one another) because definitely para ini sa aton (this project is good for us),” said Corsiga.
Even the entire country will benefit from the P11.2-billion Jalaur mega dam, said Corsiga.
“The project will be constructed for three years. The loan agreement started last November 2012. The detailed engineering design (DED) started last November 26, 2013. DED will be completed this Aug. 30,” said Corsiga.
Under its “tight” loan agreement with the Korean Eximbank, Corsiga said, the project consultant and contractor will be a Korean.
They will, however, work with a Filipino counterpart in undertaking the DED, he said.
As soon as the DED is available, an international competitive bidding will be held and approved in Manila.
Corsiga said firms qualified to bid for the Jalaur project are “top 5 Korean firms.”
They should have a “massive expertise in irrigation” and capable of implementing a “$200,000” contract, said the NIA official.
Meanwhile, Corsiga vowed that his agency will “try our best” to counter the negative environmental impacts of the project and to advance sustainable employment for affected indigenous peoples (IPs) and farmers in the area.
Calinog IPs registered with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) have no complaints against the dam, he said.
He can’t tell, however, if the three so-called indigenous peoples who recently testified before the Court of Appeals against the Jalaur mega dam erre NCIP-registered./PN
