Funds will be provided for completion of Jalaur River Dam in Iloilo, Speaker Romualdez

House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez has vowed that the necessary funds will be provided for the completion of Jalaur River Dam in Iloilo.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the project would help provide irrigation to farmers of rice-producing areas in Iloilo during the El Niño.

“We will make sure that this irrigation system is completed as part of the program of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to see to it that there is food, at least the basic staple rice, on every Filipino household’s table,” said Romualdez.

“We will help our farmers with other inputs as well, like seeds, fertilizer, farm equipment. We will also assist them in marketing their produce by building farm-to-market roads,” he added.

Meanwhile, Information Officer of Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II Flordalie Padillo said the project would aid in providing 86 million liters of bulk water and up to 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power to Iloilo City and nearby areas daily. The project will also benefit about 25,000 farmers and 4,500 indigenous families.

The project may also help in promoting tourism and reduce flooding.

“Ang JRMP II po ay isa sa 194 infrastructure projects sa ilalim ng “Build Better More” program ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at ito ay inaasahang magtataas sa produksyon ng bigas ng Iloilo up to 338,874 metric tons per year or equivalent to 71% increase sa current production rate,” said Padillo.

(The JRMP II is one of the 194 infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and this is expected to raise the production of rice in Iloilo up to 338,874 metric tons per year or equivalent to 71% increase in the current production rate.)

As of March 2024, the project was 75% completed, and is expected to accommodate other livelihood projects by 2026. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News