P11.2-B Iloilo dam project begins

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Construction of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II is expected to go full blast.

Sen. Franklin Drilon led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremony of the project in Barangay Agcalaga, Calinog, Iloilo on Wednesday.

Ricardo Visayas, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head; Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.; Deog-Young Shujn, senior executive director of the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of Korea, and Sunyoung Kim of the South Korean embassy attended the event.

The South Korean government through EXIM’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund provided a loan amounting to $208 billion or P8.9 billion under its Official Development Assistance program.

The project is the largest water reservoir to be constructed outside Luzon, which is considered an “important economic game-changer” for Iloilo.

It is also NIA’s flagship project in the Visayas.

The NIA said the project would bring bulk water supply, hydroelectric power and eco-tourism opportunities during its construction in the next four years.

The towns of Calinog, Lambunao, Badiangan, Janiuay, Cabatuan, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, Alimodian, Leon, San Miguel, Oton, Tigbauan, Dueñas, San Enrique, Anilao, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Mina, New Lucena, Pototan, Zarraga and Leganes and the cities of Passi and Iloilo will be the primary beneficiaries of the project.