ILOILO—President Marcos led the ceremonial opening of the floodgates for the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo, marking a significant milestone for the region’s agriculture and infrastructure.
The P20 billion project is expected to increase Western Visayas’ rice production by 160,000 metric tons, or 20 percent of the region’s annual rice requirement.
The JRMP II includes three main components: irrigation development, environmental and watershed management, and institutional development.
“This dam is just the beginning of our efforts to develop the country’s water resources,” said President Marcos during the unveiling of the project marker.
The project will benefit 7,000 farmers across 17 municipalities in Iloilo’s first to fifth districts. It will also provide 86 million liters of water daily for commercial and industrial needs in Iloilo province and Iloilo City.
“On top of its use for irrigation, a portion of the water from the High Dam’s reservoir, or around 86 million liters per day, will be utilized to supply the commercial and industrial bulk water requirements of Iloilo City and its neighboring municipalities,” added Mr. Marcos.
The JRMP II is also set to generate 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power, contributing to Panay Island’s electricity supply. Future plans for the project include the development of inland fisheries, floating solar energy systems, and eco-cultural tourism.
Mr. Marcos named the project “Katuwang sa Kauswagan” or “Partner in Progress,” expressing hope that it will serve as a benchmark for similar large-scale projects.
“Let this project serve as a benchmark and an inspiration for all endeavors of this scale and of this magnitude,” he said.
The President expressed gratitude to Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa for South Korea’s partnership in this and other significant projects in the Philippines.
The President committed to accelerating the completion of JRMP II.
“I think it is entirely too long that Phase I, completed in my father’s time, should now see Phase II completed in my time. We should not have waited that long. We need to accelerate the process a little bit,” he said.
The JRMP II is set to become the largest water reservoir project built by the National Irrigation Administration outside Luzon.
The project is targeted to be completed and operational by the end of 2025.
