Work on delayed Iloilo mega dam finally starts

ILOILO CITY — After years of delay, construction will start for the 111.2billion mega dam that is touted to be the largest irrigation project outside of Luzon.

“It took blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are. Some parties, for their own agenda, tried to stop this project,” said Sen. Franklin Drilon at Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Calinog town.

Drilon was referring to countless legal problems faced by the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II (JRMPII), the flagship project for the Visayas of National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The project, which has an P8.9-billion loan from Export-Import Bank of South Korea, was supposed to be finished during Benigno Aquino III’s presidency. But it was stalled by a 2013 Supreme Court order, a legal battle between NIA and South Korean contractor Daewoo and the long process of getting consent from the indigenous group of Panay Bukidnon.

JRMP-II will have three dams and reservoirs. When finished it irrigate 32,000 hectares of farmland and benefit 25,000 farmers.

“As long as we are here, the dreams of farmers will never be destroyed,” assured NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya.

NIA Western Visayas Regional Manager Gerardo Corsiga said pre-development work started last year, but actual construction of the dams will start by the first week of March.

JRMP-II also has components for generating potable water supply and a 6.6-megawatt hydro-electric power plant.

Present at the groundbreaking were Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., DeogYoung Shin of the Export-Import Bank, Sunyoung Kim of Embassy of South Korea, regional directors of national government agencies, and key business leaders.