ILOILO — The completion of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) Stage II — the biggest dam/irrigation project outside Luzon — is now within reach. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved an additional P5.961 billion for its remaining works.
The new funding, already embedded in the 2026 General Appropriations Bill and awaiting Senate approval, will cover the construction of the High Line Canal and main lateral canals, two key components that will enable water to reach thousands of hectares of farmland across Iloilo.
“This project symbolizes our commitment to sustainable development. It represents a vital investment in our farmers’ future and the overall growth of Iloilo’s economy,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., who led efforts to secure the fund.
Defensor personally met with Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Amenah Pangandaman on November 5 and earlier on July 10, and followed up with formal letters dated July 8 and October 27 underscoring the urgency of the project.
“The completion of JRMP II is not merely a local undertaking; it is vital for the well-being and sustainability of our farming communities,” he stressed.
The P19.7-billion JRMP Stage II, implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), is now 75.51 percent complete as of June 2024. Once finished, it will irrigate more than 30,000 hectares of farmland, benefiting around 25,000 farmers and strengthening the province’s food production capacity amid recurring droughts and erratic weather.
President Marcos, who inaugurated the project in Calinog on July 16, 2024, has positioned the JRMP as a flagship initiative under his administration’s agricultural modernization program.
Governor Defensor emphasized that the project’s completion would not only boost crop yields and food security but also generate jobs and raise household incomes in rural Iloilo.
“This substantial investment will uplift the socio-economic status of our farming communities and help drive inclusive growth,” he added.
With this latest funding approval, the province of Iloilo stands on the verge of an agricultural transformation — one that could redefine water management and ensure a more resilient, productive future for Western Visayas farmers./PN
