Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Iloilo City
21 February 2013
President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Iloilo Governor Art Defensor Sr. and Senator Frank Drilon, headed the ceremonial capsule-laying of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II at the Provincial Capitol Building of Iloilo in Iloilo City.
In his message, the President said that his government wants to provide projects such as the JRMPS II that will bring concrete services to the people. “Oras na matapos ang proyekto, apatnapu’t tatlong porsyento ng lupang agraryo dito sa Iloilo ang magkakaroon ng irigasyon. Ibig sabihin, inaasahan natin na dodoble ang maaaning bigas sa rehiyon, at aangat ng tatlumpung porsyento ang produksyon ng tubo,” the President said.
President Aquino continued that the construction of the Jalaur River Project will create 17,000 jobs and once the project is fully operational, it will generate an additional 32,000 jobs to Ilonggo farmers, fishermen and vendors. Moreover, he said that among the further benefits of the project are additional power supply from the hydropower mechanism, improved fishery and eco-tourism sectors and flood mitigation in Iloilo.
He thanked Senator Drilon, Governor Defensor and Iloilo 5th District Representative Niel Tupas, Jr. who worked hand-in-hand to make the project possible. He also conveyed his appreciation to the South Korea government and Korean Export-Import Bank which gave more than $200 million assistance fund for JRMPS.
A project of the National Irrigation Administration, JRMPS II is the first large scale reservoir dam outside Luzon. It measures an estimate of 600-800 hectares and consists of three dams namely, Julaur Reservoir, Afterbay, and Alibunan Catch. The project primarily aims to sustain the region’s rice self-sufficiency and contribute to the country’s annual rice production target of 7.6%. It is expected to generate 6.6 megawatts per hour from its hydropower turbine and supply 86,400 m3 clean water per day. Its service area will cover 23 municipalities and the cities of Passi and Iloilo. The project is targeted to start in the 1st quarter of 2014 and be completed in 2016.
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