CA junks bid to stop P11-B Iloilo dam project

ILOILO CITY—The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition to stop the implementation of a controversial P11.2-billion megadam project in Iloilo.

In a 23-page decision promulgated on Sept. 16, the CA’s Former Fifth Division dismissed for lack of merit the petition for continuing mandamus and writ of kalikasan against the implementation of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) II.

In ruling on the petition filed by former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr., the appellate court said the respondents had shown that consultations were undertaken with affected indigenous people’s communities under the Free Prior and Informed Consent process under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

The respondents included the National Irrigation Administration, Senate President Franklin Drilon and other officials and government agencies.

The JRMP II is the second of a two-stage project aimed at the multipurpose use of water of the Jalaur River, one of the major rivers of Panay. It was implemented after the passing of Republic Act No. 2651 in 1960.

It involves the construction of three dams (reservoir, afterbay and catch dams), a 6.6-megawatt hydroelectric plant and an 81-kilometer high-line canal.

The CA rejected Syjuco’s arguments on the environmental and safety risk purportedly posed by the project.

“As positively shown by public respondents that there was no unlawful act or omission on their part, which have not been overturned by petitioner by concrete and convincing evidence, this petition has no merit to warrant the relief prayer for,” according to the court’s decision.

Set to start on February next year, the JRMP II is funded by a $ 203- million loan extended by the South Korean government through its Export- Import Bank’s Economic Cooperation Fund, with a counterpart fund from the Philippine government amounting to P2.2 billion.

Proponents and supporters of the project have insisted that the JRMP II will boost agricultural production, water supply and generate employment.

But critics, including environmental groups and IP organizations, have resisted the project, citing the dislocation of thousands of tribal people and environmental risks.