ILOILO – Ahead of his July 22 third State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is inaugurating today the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) Phase II in the Municipality of Calinog.
Once the JRMP is fully operational, it is expected to irrigate approximately 31,840 hectares of farmland, benefitting over 25,000 farmers and significantly boosting the agricultural output of Iloilo and the adjacent provinces of Antique, Aklan, and Capiz.
According to Ilonggo former Senate President Franklin Drilon who has championed the construction of JRMP II since 2011, JRMP can help fulfill the government’s vision of food security and help reduce the price of rice.
“By providing a reliable water supply for irrigation, we can boost rice production and ultimately bring down the cost of this staple food,” he explained.
President Marcos will specifically inaugurate three major components of the project – the 109-meter high dam, the 38.5-meter afterbay dam, and the 80.74-kilometer high line canal.
JRMP started in 1960. To harness the power of the Jalaur River for irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation, Congress passed Republic Act 2651, which mandated the construction of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project.
With financial assistance from the World Bank, the feasibility study on the JRMP was completed in 1976 during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
In 1983, the first phase of the project costing P202.2 million was completed. It covered the rehabilitation of irrigation systems over an area of 22,340 hectares.
Due to a lack of funds and insufficient prioritization by subsequent administrations, however, the second phase never took off.
In 2011 through Drilon’s initiative, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III breathed new life into the JRMP.
From the Korean Exim Bank, the Philippine government was able to secure a $207-million loan which carried a remarkably low-interest rate of 0.15% per annum. The government’s counterpart fund was P2.2 billion.
In 2023, the project received a significant boost under the leadership of President Marcos Jr. During a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting chaired by the President on July 19, 2023, the board approved additional funding for the completion of JRMP II.
The project also includes components for flood mitigation and hydroelectric power generation.
“The completion of the JRMP aligns perfectly with the public’s demand for immediate solutions to rising commodity prices. JRMP can help in ensuring a steady and affordable supply of rice,” said Drilon.
A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that 72% of Filipino adults see controlling the spiraling prices of basic commodities as the most urgent issue the Marcos administration should address./PN