By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III again took pride in the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Phase II as one his administration’s many infrastructure projects.
Aquino yesterday delivered a speech during the Agenda Setting Dialogue with Partners at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.
“Ang paborito po ni Senator (Franklin) Drilon, ang Jalaur River Multipurpose Project sa Iloilo na plinano sa taong isinalang ako, nasa Phase II na po mula pa noong 2013,” he said.
The multibillion-peso mega dam project will be completed in 2017, according to the National Irrigation Administration. Construction will start in February next year.
It is expected to irrigate 32,000 hectares of farmlands and provide water supply of 85,000 cubic meters a day, benefitting thousands of farmers.
Drilon was instrumental in securing an P8.9-billion loan from South Korea to partly fund the project. Aquino, through the Disbursement Acceleration Program, also appropriated P450 million for the project.
During his fifth State of the Nation Address, he defended the project from critics.
Those against it are against the farmers who have long dreamed of efficient irrigation systems, he stressed.
“Napakaraming proyektong matagal nang nabinbin. Tayo na po ang tumapos nito,” Aquino said. “Ang Aluling Bridge sa Ilocos Sur, 1978 pa naisip. Ang Ternate-Nasugbu Road, 1994 pa sinimulan. Ang Skyway State 3 naman po na panahon pa ng diktador pinangako, sa wakas po nitong Enero, sinimulan na rin ang konstruksyon.”
The President criticized those who continue to question his reform programs.
“Hindi po ito parang instant coffee na pagkatimpla mo ay agad ay buong-buo nang malalasahan,” he said.
Aquino urged the public to support a leader who will continue his administration’s reforms when his term ends in 2016.
“Ang misyon nga po natin: Isagad ang magagawang pagbabago sa kasalukuyan para makita ng ating mga Boss na ang tanging daan tungo sa ating mga adikain ay ang pagsunod sa tuwid na landas,” he said.
For his part, Senate President Drilon said he will make sure that the next President will continue the present leadership’s reforms.
“Our mission now for the next two years is to safeguard the reforms so that neither force nor certain personalities can reverse this even beyond 2016,” the Ilonggo senator said./PN
