Iloilo dam project finally underway

After being stalled for 15 years, the multibillion irrigation project in Calinog, Iloilo—the biggest dam to be built outside Luzon—is set to begin construction by October this year, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

During a coordination meeting among NIA, Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea and the winning Korean contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd., the ceremonial groundbreaking for the project is set in October. It is expected to be finished before the end of President Duterte’s term in 2022, the NIA said on its website.

The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP II), funded by a $260-million (P11.212-billion) loan from South Korea, involves the construction of three dams (109-meter Jalaur high dam, 38.5-meter Afterbay dam and 10-meter Alibutan catch dam), a 6.6-megawatt hydro-power plant and an 81-kilometer high-line canal at Jalaur River.

A priority infrastructure project of the Aquino administration, it was repeatedly delayed due to failed biddings and a court case. It also faced strong opposition due to concerns over its impact on the environment and tribal lands.

According to NIA’s website, the JRMP II is expected to “provide year-round irrigation to some 9,500 hectares of new irrigable area … benefiting around 24,000 farmers and their families.”

“The project will also provide other incidental benefits, such as flood mitigation, environmental and watershed management, promotion of eco-tourism and fish culture,” the agency added.

Moreover, the dam is seen to generate around 86,400 cubic meters per day of potable water for domestic use.