NIA starts P11.2-B irrigation project

MANILA, Philippines — The government has begun the construction of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) in Iloilo, the largest irrigation project outside of Luzon.

The National Irrigation Administration recently broke ground on the JRMP II in Calinog, Iloilo, which is NIA’s eighth big ticket project under the Build Build Build program and the second irrigation project funded by the Korean government through the Korea Export-Import Bank.

Korea will be funding P8.9 billion through its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), while the remaining P2.2 billion will be shouldered by the Philippine government.

Korean construction firm Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. will implement the project.

The project, which will be finished in the next four years, has a 0.15 percent interest with a 10-year grace period and 30 years to pay.

JRMP II includes the construction of three dams including a 109-meter high dam, a 38-meter after bay dam across the Jalaur River, and a catch dam in Alibunan River.

An 80-kilometer high line canal will also be constructed to deliver irrigation water from the dams to the rice paddies.

The project is expected to provide year round irrigation water to 9,500 hectares of new irrigable areas and rehabilitation of 22,340 hectares covered by five existing irrigation systems in 23 municipalities and two cities in Iloilo.

It is expected to benefit 22,000 farmers and provide 17,000 employment opportunities during the project implementation.

Upon completion, rice production is seen to increase from 3.6 to five metric tons per hectare and provide other incidental benefits such as the development of eco-cultural tourism, fish culture, flood mitigation, and watershed management.

Furthermore, 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power and bulk water supply for domestic and industrial use will also be implemented.