ILOILO City – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6 is aiming to start the initial operation of the P19.698-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo by December 2024.
Acting Regional Manager Jonel Borres announced that the agency is targeting to supply irrigation water to 1,000 hectares of planting areas in Calinog, the municipality hosting the JRMP II site.
The irrigation canal of JRMP II in Calinog has already been completed.
However, the full operation of JRMP II is projected by the end of 2025, as the overall completion of the project stood at 76.28 percent as of September 2024.
Borres explained that the three major dams — Jalaur High Dam, Jalaur Afterbay Dam, and the Alibunan River Catch Dam — are substantially completed.
The construction of the 80-kilometer high canal, however, is still ongoing.
Despite the ongoing construction, the Project Management Office overseeing JRMP II has already initiated preparations for the project’s operation. This includes the plugging of diversion tunnels and the impounding of water in the Jalaur High Dam and Jalaur Afterbay Dam.
As of October 21, the Jalaur Reservoir has impounded 188 million cubic meters of water, out of its 250 million cubic meter capacity, following the start of water impounding in May 2024.
Borres said water impounding has helped mitigate flooding in downstream areas during the rainy season by controlling the release of water back to the Jalaur River.
The dam’s flood control capabilities were proven during Typhoon Paeng in 2023, when the High Dam stored 70 percent of the floodwater.
Once fully operational, JRMP II is expected to significantly boost rice production in Iloilo to 338,874 metric tons annually, representing a 71.54 percent increase from the current production of 197,545 metric tons.
The project will benefit approximately 25,000 farmers through continuous irrigation.
Additionally, JRMP II will contribute to augmenting the province and Iloilo City’s water and power supply needs, with the project set to provide one cubic meter per second of bulk water and generate 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power./PN
