ILOILO City – The high dam of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo is expected to be completed by December 2023. However, the mega dam’s full operation may start in late 2024 or early 2025, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6.
JRMP II is NIA’s biggest irrigation development project in Region 6 to date. Its completion is projected to boost the country’s food security and address declining agricultural productivity.
NIA-6 information officer Steve Cordero said the dam could not operate right away in December this year because its irrigation component may not be completed yet by that time.
He said 50 percent of the 80-kilometer highland canal has been completed so far.
Another 80-kilometer mini-lateral canal is yet to be completed.
The mega dam is seen to provide the critical support needed by Iloilo farmers and the agriculture sector to improve yield.
It is projected to increase annual production of rice in Iloilo to 300,000 metric tons from 140,000 metric tons, and likewise expand the production areas of sugarcane and other crops.
“Nagpangayo kami extension. Ang dam naton matapos within 2023 pero ang irrigation nga component medyo maulihi,” said Cordero.
The irrigation component of the project is expected to be substantially completed by June 2024 or before September 2024.
NIA-6 is looking at around late 2024 or early 2025 for the mega dam to already provide water to different areas of the province, and even Iloilo City.
Cordero said the reservoir is expected to be filled with water within two rainy seasons but with the recent pattern of the rainfall, it may be full within half a year.
NIA is the government agency overseeing the mega dam project.
As of January, Cordero said the overall physical accomplishment of the Jalaur dam project was 64.5 percent.
JRMP II includes the construction of a109-meter high dam, 38.5-meter afterbay dam, 10-meter Alibunan catch dam, 80.74-kilometer high line canal, generation of new areas for irrigation, and rehabilitation of the existing irrigation system.
The high dam is now 73.1 meters high while the afterbay dam is now substantially completed.
One of the remaining works is a bridge on top of the afterbay dam that will connect barangays Agcalaga and Alibunan in Calinog./PN
