The Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and become fully operational by 2028, with the project already reaching an overall physical completion rate of 86.16 percent as of June 2026.
This update was presented by engineer Jonel B. Borres, National Irrigation Administration (NIA-6) regional manager and JRMP Stage II concurrent project manager, during the 12th episode of Kapihan sa PIA-6 held on July 8.
Borres said the once-envisioned project has now become a reality through the collective efforts of stakeholders, bringing the province closer to its long-awaited agricultural transformation.
“Paagi sa aton pagbinuligay, ining anay damgo lang nga proyekto, aton na ginahuman kag ginapatuman. Gani indi na malayo malab-ot ang aton tinutuyo nga pag-umwad, kung sang una imposible, subong posible na,” he remarked.
JRMP II consists of the 109-meter Jalaur High Dam, 38-meter Jalaur Afterbay Dam, and 10-meter Alibunan River Catch Dam, which are expected to spur agriculture-driven development and improve the livelihood of farmers across Iloilo and the rest of Western Visayas.
According to Borres, the project will provide additional irrigation water to five existing National Irrigation Systems (NIS), covering about 22,340 hectares of farmland and benefiting approximately 17,000 farmer-beneficiaries throughout the province.
Even before its completion, the megadam has already started supplying irrigation water, allowing the 149 members of the AGBATO Calinog Irrigators Association Inc. in the town to cultivate rice for a third cropping within a single agricultural cycle.
Aside from irrigation, JRMP II is also expected to generate 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power, providing a clean and renewable energy source, while its bulk water component is designed to supply around 86.4 million liters of water daily for domestic and industrial use in Iloilo City and nearby towns.
Borres also reported that Project Management Office (PMO) focuses on the construction of the project’s 80-kilometer highline canal, including its main and lateral canals and other appurtenant structures across the municipalities of Badiangan, Janiuay, Lambunao, San Miguel, and Tigbauan.
The official added that the remaining works are being implemented through Local Minor Contracts (LMC), with the highline canal now 53.44 percent complete, the main canal at 50.02 percent, and the remaining irrigation components targeted for completion by June 2027.
Borres assured that close monitoring will be conducted to ensure the completion of contractors’ works, while expressing that no more calamities are hoped for this year to prevent further delays.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and NIA, according to him, are preparing to pilot a tilapia livelihood project within a portion of the project’s 500-hectare reservoir in Calinog, creating an additional source of income for nearby communities.
Once fully completed, JRMP Stage II is expected to become the largest development project in Iloilo province and a major contributor to the government’s food security agenda by providing a more reliable and sustainable irrigation system for agricultural communities.Jose Alphonso Ceria, WVSU-COC intern/IMT
