GAME CHANGER. The high dam of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II) in the town of Calinog in Iloilo. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr is set to inaugurate the billion-peso project on Tuesday (July 16, 2024). (Photo courtesy of JRMP II)
ILOILO CITY – The PHP19 billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II) in the town of Calinog in Iloilo is a game changer as it is seen to boost the country’s drive on food security and address the high inflation rate.
Former senator Franklin Drilon on Monday said the project which spanned over three administrations was finally seeing its completion as he expressed gratitude to the present government.
“I want to express my appreciation to the present administration for the support it has given to this project which will be a game changer in so far as our poverty situation in Iloilo is concerned,” Drilon said during a virtual press conference.
“This project spans for at least three presidents and I'm glad we are seeing its completion with the President coming to inaugurate it.”
The Jalaur dam is expected to increase rice production by over 300 metric tons benefiting 25,000 farmer families with its year-round irrigation for 31,840 hectares of rice land in Iloilo.
It will also provide a water source to residents of Iloilo City by around 86,000 cubic meters per day and an electricity supply of 6.8 megawatts.
Drilon believed that through this project, high inflation caused by rice could be addressed.
He said the driver of inflation is rice, adding if the price was high it would have an impact on the process of basic goods. The interim solution, he said, is the reduction of tariffs on imports that would also harm farmers.
“That is why the key to arresting inflation is sufficient food production, sufficient rice production. This is what Jalaur aims to have - sufficient rice production and giving our kasimanwa (countrymen) an opportunity to buy rice at lower cost,” he said.
The JRMP II was first implemented in the 1960s after the Fourth Congress passed Republic Act 2651, which provided for the construction of the project.
The first phase was completed in the 1980s under the term of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos but the second phase was derailed due to the lack of funding.
The second phase started in 2011 under the term of the late President Benigno C. Aquino III when Drilon secured a USD207 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
“President Bongbong Marcos has approved the support of an additional budget of PHP8 billion for the completion of this project,” he added.
Drilon who brought big-ticket projects to Iloilo, including the airport, road widening, Iloilo Convention Center, and Esplanade, considered the JRMP project as the most challenging and satisfying.
“I would consider this as my most challenging and most satisfying legacy that I will leave to my kasimanwa in Iloilo because this could help our farmers, increase their production, and lower the price of rice because of the sufficient supply,” he added.
All the major components of the project, including the 109-meter high dam, 38.5-meter afterbay dam, and 10-meter catch dam are completed while the 80.74-kilometer high line canal is over 50 percent complete. (PNA)
