ILOILO – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is set to lead the inauguration of the Jalaur Multi-purpose Project in Calinog on July 16, marking a significant milestone in the region’s development.
Top government officials, including Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo, Jr., Presidential Communication Office Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Gerafil, and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., are also expected to attend, alongside other provincial and local officials.
NIA Western Visayas Focal Person Steve Cordero announced that the project’s physical completion has reached 75.51%, with three major dams—the Jalaur High Dam, Jalaur Afterbay Dam, and Alibunan Catchment Dam—already finished. Cordero further mentioned that the Jalaur Dam has accumulated enough water to meet minimum operational requirements.
The construction of the irrigation components, including the canals, is ongoing to ensure the Mega Dam’s full functionality.
The Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) is anticipated to be fully operational by 2025.
According to NIA Western Visayas, JRMP II will boost rice production in Iloilo Province by 71.54%, translating to an annual increase of 338,874 metric tons. The project will benefit 25,000 farmers across 23 municipalities in the province.
Additionally, JRMP II will support the water supply needs of Iloilo City and the province through its hydroelectric power components, which can provide one cubic meter per second or 86,400 liters of water per day and generate 6.6 megawatts of clean renewable energy. The Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project is the largest dam constructed outside Luzon.
Meanwhile, the NIA has ensured that the Indigenous People (IPs) affected by the project are well taken care of.
A total of 32 housing units have been built in Sitio Agburi, Barangay Cahigon, Calinog, Iloilo. Each unit, valued at P500,000, includes a 35-square-meter floor area and a 150-square-meter lot. The success of the housing project is attributed to the assistance of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
