16/07/2024
As the Administration continues to fulfill its goal of improving the country’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project - Stage II (JRMP-II) in the Municipality of Calinog, Province of Iloilo on July 16, 2024.
Spearheaded by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the JRMP-II is the first large-scale water reservoir considered as one of the government’s flagship projects in Western Visayas. It modernizes the existing National Irrigation Systems (NIS) in Iloilo and is seen to contribute immensely to the country’s food production and promote the welfare of Filipino farmers.
The PhP19.70 billion project is composed of three (3) major components, namely irrigation development; environmental and watershed management; and institutional development. It also includes a 109-meter high dam, a 38.5-meter afterbay dam and an 80.74 kilometer high line canal capable of providing several benefits like irrigation, bulk water supply, hydroelectric power, inland fishery and eco-tourism, among others.
Once operational, the JRMP-II is seen to expand NIA’s irrigation service area by 9,500 hectares of rain-fed agricultural land on top of the existing 22,340 hectares being serviced by the Agency. With this project, around 25,000 farmers from across 23 towns and two (2) cities in Iloilo will benefit while a boost in rice production is anticipated to soar at an estimated 338,874 metric tons per year.
The JRMP was created in 1960 through Republic Act (RA) No. 2651 and the first stage of the project was completed in 1982. The JRMP-II is expected to be fully operational in mid 2025.
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