AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has approved the implementation of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project or JRMP that will play a crucial role in President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to provide “free, sufficient and efficient” irrigation system to farmers.
Outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon said the project will provide uninterrupted irrigation to 32,000 hectares of farm land for free and benefit more than 25,000 farmers.
“This project, which will be the first large-scale reservoir dam outside of Luzon, will increase the irrigated lands in the region by around 10 percent and the annual regional rice production by around five percent,” Drilon said.
“It will likewise expand the production areas of sugarcane and other crops.”
Drilon said the project will augment agricultural production, stimulate agri-industrial activities, spur the local economy and the eco-tourism industry, increase employment and contribute to the development of Iloilo and Western Visayas.
The implementation of the JRMP was mandated under Republic Act No. 2651, which was enacted by Congress in 1960.
Phase one of the project, which consisted of rehabilitating the irrigation systems with an area of 22,340 hectares, was completed in 1983. But Phase 2 was never implemented since 1988 due to lack of funds.