MANILA – Malacañang announced that the construction of Iloilo’s Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo would commence in two months.
“The construction of Iloilo’s biggest irrigation project will start after 15 years of delay,” spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.
Citing information from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Roque said the JRMP II, the biggest dam to be built outside Luzon, would break ground in October.
The Palace official said the economic benefit of the dam would be tremendous.
“Some 24,000 farmers and their families will benefit from this irrigation project which will provide year-round water to 9,500 hectares of new irrigable areas,” said Roque.
The dam would also sustain the water needs of 22,340 hectares under five existing irrigation systems in 33 municipalities in Iloilo province, he added.
In March Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. as winning contractor of the mega dam received a Notice of Award from NIA.
Construction will last for 46 months.
The dam also has the capacity to generate 6.6 megawatts hydro-electric power and around 86,400 cubic meters per day of potable water for domestic use of nearby municipalities.
The project involved the construction of three dams, a 6.6-megawatt hydropower plant and an 81-kilometer canal.
The implementation of the JRMP was mandated under Republic Act 2651 enacted by Congress in 1960.
Stage I of the project, which consisted of rehabilitating the irrigation systems with an area of 22,340 hectares, was completed in 1983.
Stage II, however, was never implemented since 1988 due to lack of funds./PN
