ONE of the three major dams under the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project-Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY — The megadam project in Iloilo province will be completed with an additional P5.96-billion funding approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) confirmed an earlier disclosure by Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. that Marcos approved the needed funding to finish the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project-Stage II (JRMP-II).
“We are grateful to President Marcos and our development partners for their support to JRMP-II," said NIA-6 Regional Manager Engr. Jonel Borres, JRMP-II project manager.
JRMP-II spokesperson Steve Cordero said the amount will construct the irrigation component of the three dams and reservoirs in Calinog town that would bring water to farmlands.
“The remaining works include construction of high-line and main canals with enhanced design and new lateral canals equivalent to 55.3 kilometers intended to enhance delivery of water to farmlands,” Cordero said.
Once finished, the JRMP-II price tag would balloon to P26 billion from the original of P11.2 billion groundbreaking was held in 2013.
Around P8.2 billion of the initial P11.2 billion budget for JRMP-II in 2013 was a loan by the Philippine government from the Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The Marcos administration approved the additional P8.4-billion funding needed to finish the construction of the three dams in 2023.
With the latest development, construction work is scheduled to be completed by June 2027 with its final completion set for December 2027.