BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Eight congressmen from Iloilo and Guimaras have expressed support to the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II).
“We appreciate the meticulous planning, carefully crafted and reviewed feasibility study, and diligent preparations undertaken to verify the viability and long-term benefits of the JRMP II project,” the eight stressed in a manifesto.
The Supreme Court has issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the project October last year and this January referred the matter to the Court of Appeals (CA) to resolve the issues. The CA has been tasked to hear the case and receive evidence on the case.
The eight congressmen were Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City, Richard Garin of Iloilo’s 1st District, Arcadio Gorriceta of Iloilo’s 2nd District, Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo’s 3rd District, Hernan Biron Jr. of Iloilo’s 4th District and Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo’s 5th District.
Cong. JC Rahman Nava of Guimaras and Pablo Roces Nava III of APPEND party-list also signed the manifesto of support.
According to the congressmen, the project – seen to become the largest reservoir dam outside Luzon – will have multiple economic contributions to local communities.
Their position ran counter with that of their former colleague in the Lower House, Augusto Syjuco, ex-congressman of Iloilo’s 2nd District who sought the Writ of Kalikasan against the project.
According to Syjuco, the project will displace 17,000 indigenous people.
The congressmen, however, stressed that the Jalaur mega dam will provide multipurpose utilization of water resources for irrigation, hydroelectric power, domestic and industrial water supply and other related water resources development.
Sen. Franklin Drilon who has been lobbying for the JRMP II welcomed the congressmen’s support.
He told Panay News yesterday that the project will provide jobs and improve the lives of Ilonggos.
The Iloilo provincial government and municipal mayors have issued manifestos of support to the mega dam, too.
Drilon said actual construction in Calinog, Iloilo will start in the first quarter of 2015.
“The detailed engineering design is almost complete. It will be bid in the last quarter of 2014,” he said.
The dam is expected to benefit about 800,000 farmers in more than 20 Iloilo municipalities, Drilon said.
It will likewise provide 17,000 jobs and double the province’s yearly rice production from 142,000 to 300,000 tons, he stressed.
According to Syjuco, tribes living in affected barangays in Calinog would be submerged.
He also cited a study by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that areas in the downstream and those near the Jalaur River were highly susceptible to flooding./PN
