ILOILO CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. cited two major infrastructure projects in the Western Visayas region in his third State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (second from left) leads the inauguration of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II (JRMP-II) project in Calinog town, Iloilo province on July 16, 2024. (Tara Yap)
These were the energization of the 230-kilovolt (kV) backbone project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in the Visayas and the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II (JRMP-II) mega dam in Calinog town, Iloilo province.
The NGCP completed the 230-kV project that stabilizes electric grids for Panay, Negros, and Cebu islands last April.
“This project has successfully averted blackouts in Panay Island during critical periods of yellow and red alerts in the region,” the President said.
“Energy sharing and transfers between, among, and within the three island groups have now been made possible,” added Marcos.
The President challenged the NGCP in his second SONA last year to complete the project as Panay and Negros Islands suffered prolonged power blackouts in April 2023. These blackouts again occurred in Panay Island after the New Year.
Marcos inaugurated the P19.6-billion JRMP-II mega dam project last July 16 to boost food security
“With the Jalaur project, nearly 32,000 hectares of land will be irrigated and ensure water security, especially in underserved areas,” the President said.
The JRMP-II, once operational, will benefit 25,000 farmers by irrigating 31,840 hectares of farmland in Iloilo. The JRMP-II also has components hydroelectric power and flood control components.