BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Augusto Syjuco Jr., former Iloilo congressman, does not mind being called ignorant.
What is more “important” to him, he said, is the “decision of the court” regarding his petition against the multibillion-peso Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP-II).
On Sunday, Mayor Alex Centena of Calinog, Iloilo where the project would be constructed called Syjuco “ignorant” of the real benefits of the mega dam.
Syjuco questioned the project’s safety and secured a Writ of Kalikasan against it.
“Let us simply agree that the name of the dam site is Calinog. No more comment (on Centena’s remark),” Syjuco told Panay News yesterday.
The Supreme Court on October 2013 issued a Writ of Kalikasan against what Syjuco said would become a “killer dam.”
When completed, JRMP-II is expected to become the biggest outside Luzon.
Last month, Syjuco made an appearance before the Court of Appeals with three residents from Calinog who claimed they were bribed or threatened not to speak ill about the mega dam. They were Nestor Castor, Eladio Legario and Cenia Lastrilla.
These individuals from the “deep mountain parts” of Calinog should be protected,” said Syjuco.
He claimed the three were offered with employment for “P250 a day” by the local government of Calinog just to shut up.
Some were offered to “watch” the equipment of contractors, added Syjuco.
Centena denied the accusation, saying the three witnesses were only being “used.”
Their testimonies also angered the indigenous community in Calinog, the mayor shared.
The JRMP-II seeks to upgrade the existing irrigation system coverage in Iloilo from 22,000 hectares to 31,840 hectares of farmland. The goal is to increase rice production.
The mega dam will harness the power of the Jalaur River to also produce additional electricity estimated at 6.6 megawatts.
It will also augment the province’s and Iloilo City’s supply of potable water for domestic and industrial use, mitigate flooding, promote eco-tourism, and generate employment for 17,000 workers during construction, he added./PN
