ILOILO City – The Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) has passed its first major real-world stress test even before completion. The Jalaur High Dam successfully held back 19.5 million cubic meters of water during Typhoon “Tino”, preventing severe flooding that could have inundated downstream communities in Calinog, Iloilo.
The incident, highlighted in post-typhoon assessments, has strengthened public and government recognition of JRMP II’s role as a major flood-mitigating infrastructure — a function often overshadowed by the project’s irrigation and water supply goals.
Project engineers noted that the volume temporarily retained by the dam during “Tino” was equivalent to about 7,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools, underscoring its structural stability and the scale of protection it can provide to thousands of residents along the Jalaur River Basin.
Beyond this successful performance, construction continues to push forward as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the JRMP II Project Management Office (PMO) aim to complete major works by June 2027, with full project delivery set for December 2027.
Engr. Jonel Borres, NIA Region 6 regional manager and concurrent JRMP II project manager, said the PMO is working to speed up implementation through its convergence mechanism with 27 government agencies, local farmers, and Indigenous Peoples’ communities.
“We are coordinating closely with all stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and timely delivery of the remaining components,” Borres said in earlier discussions.
The project’s completion timeline was reaffirmed after the Economy and Development Council (EDC) approved the extension of JRMP II’s loan validity until November 15, 2026, allowing remaining payments and contractual obligations to be processed without delay.
The project’s multi-agency review and endorsements — from the NIA Executive Committee and Board of Directors to the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Investment Coordination Committee, Regional Development Council 6; Department of Economy, Planning, and Development 6; and the Iloilo Provincial Government — further solidify JRMP II’s standing as a nationally significant, multi-benefit infrastructure.
As JRMP II moves closer to completion, its performance during “Tino” is being viewed as early evidence that the project will play a vital long-term role in flood control, irrigation security, and climate resilience in Western Visayas./PN
