BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – “The future of the province and city of Iloilo.”
This was how Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo’s 3rd District described the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Phase II (JRMP-II) in Calinog, Iloilo.
The mega dam could become a “viable source” of water for food and agriculture, and power supply, the Ilonggo lawmaker told Panay News in a telephone interview.
Construction begins in early 2015.
It will be the province’s “only chance” for “meaningful resource-oriented development,” Defensor said.
The Supreme Court has issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the project October last year.
“I believe in the project. Sino ba hindi,” Defensor said.
But he declined to comment on the issue of safety raised by former congressman Augusto Syjuco (Iloilo, 2nd District) in seeking the Writ of Kalikasan.
“These are technical questions that can only be answered by appropriate government agencies. Truth is, we should avoid public discussion on the merit of the case (because it is already in the court),” Defensor said.
He also refused to say anything on Syjuco, a former colleague in Congress.
Syjuco claimed the JRMP II will have “adverse” and “serious” environmental impacts.
Defensor, along with seven other congressmen from Iloilo and Guimaras Island, signed a manifesto of support for the JRMP-II.
The manifesto stated that the dam project will have multiple economic contributions to local communities.
Defensor also signed another manifesto – prepared by the Visayas bloc of House of Representatives – declaring support for the same project.
“The JRMP II is one of the most significant large-scale projects of the government that would directly benefit the people of the Visayas, especially the highly populous island of Panay,” the document stated.
JRMP II is seen to create 17,000 job opportunities, 86,000 cubic meters of bulk water and seven megawatts of additional electrical generation./PN
