ILOILO – With foreign contractor Daewoo stepping away from completing the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II’s (JRMP II) high line canal in Calinog town, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is now placing its bets on local contractors to carry the project through the finish line.
Daewoo delivered the three major dams of the JRMP II and completed only 16 kilometers of the 80-kilometer high line canal. The firm cited difficulties navigating Iloilo’s rugged terrain and the canal’s complex construction requirements.
In response, NIA adjusted its strategy.
“We are banking on the capacity, knowledge, and experience of our local contractors when it comes to irrigation projects to fast-track the implementation of our project. We are looking into this positively,” said JRMP II spokesperson Steve Cordero.
The government aims to finish the canal — the last major component of the JRMP II — by the end of 2026. Local contractors are expected not only to be more cost-effective but also more attuned to the terrain and logistical demands of the region.
Cordero also noted the project’s bulk water component could only begin once the high line canal is completed, underscoring the urgency to move forward with capable partners.
The shift in contractors came up during the recent Infrastructure Development Committee meeting of the Regional Development Council, led by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. The mayor underscored the project’s importance beyond irrigation.
“With the completion of the Jalaur dam, highland canals, and the proposed partnership with Aboitiz InfraCapital, alongside the desalination plant, we are hopeful that Iloilo City will finally have a stable supply of potable water,” said Treñas.
As of January 2025, JRMP II was 77.49 percent physically complete. Once finished, it is projected to bring irrigation to an additional 9,500 hectares of farmland and boost annual rice production by nearly 339,000 metric tons — benefiting an estimated 25,000 farmers across Iloilo province./PN
