ILOILO – The Jalaur River for the People Movement (JRPM) has sounded the alarm over what it claimed as the ballooning cost of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) in Calinog town.
It claimed the budget has nearly doubled to ₱20.09 billion from its original ₱11.2 billion more than a decade ago.
“This is not just about numbers — it is about people’s lives and rights,” said JRPM coordinator John Ian Alenciaga. “The ballooning JRMP II budget is the people’s money and it must be accounted for — before it is too late.”
The group claimed government records show that ₱8.54 billion, or 42.48 percent, of the project funding came from the Philippine government, while ₱11.56 billion, or 57.52 percent, was covered by a loan from South Korea. The latter already exceeds the original ₱8.96 billion loan package approved in 2012, they added.
What drew sharper criticism from JRPM was what it claimed as the sudden infusion of ₱7.088 billion in unprogrammed funds in 2024, on top of allocations from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“As of March 2024, NIA’s (National Irrigation Administration) own fund status report showed no release under unprogrammed funds. Yet by June, billions suddenly appeared,” Alenciaga said. “Where did these funds come from, and why were they inserted outside the regular budget process?”
JRPM warned that unprogrammed funds, often flagged as “lump-sum allocations notorious for corruption,” undermine transparency and accountability.
The group further raised concerns about alleged violations of indigenous Tumandok communities’ rights, citing ancestral lands taken without genuine consent and loss of traditional livelihoods.
“The project threatens not just the Tumandok but also countless Ilonggos downstream,” Alenciaga stressed. “Mega dams worsen flooding, and JRMP II could unleash catastrophic floods across Iloilo’s towns, endangering lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.”
With the project still incomplete and targeted for completion in 2027, JRPM questioned whether more insertions and unprogrammed funds would surface in the coming years. It demanded a “thorough and independent review” of the project, calling on the NIA and other agencies to fully disclose all sources, releases, and uses of JRMP II funds.
“Development cannot come at the expense of the people’s safety and lives,” Alenciaga said. “The people deserve answers.”/PN
