PHP19 Billion Jalaur Dam Project Set to Strengthen Food Security and Mitigate Inflation in the Philippines

ILOILO — The completion of the PHP19 billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II) is anticipated to significantly enhance food security and address inflation issues in the Philippines, particularly benefiting the agricultural sector in Iloilo.

According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke at a virtual press conference on Monday, the project has spanned three presidential administrations and is now nearing completion under the current government. Drilon lauded the continued support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has committed an additional PHP8 billion to finalize the project. The Jalaur dam, which has been in development since the 1960s, is expected to substantially increase rice production by providing year-round irrigation to 31,840 hectares of rice land, benefiting approximately 25,000 farmer families.

The project also promises to supply around 86,000 cubic meters of water daily to the residents of Iloilo City and generate 6.8 megawatts of electricity. Drilon emphasized that addressing the high cost of rice, which significantly impacts inflation, is crucial. He noted that the dam’s increased rice production capacity is expected to stabilize rice prices, thereby influencing the prices of basic goods favorably.

The JRMP II, initially legislated through Republic Act 2651 during the Fourth Congress, had its first phase completed in the 1980s under former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. However, funding shortages stalled the second phase until 2011, when it was revived under President Benigno Aquino III with a USD207 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Drilon, who has been instrumental in bringing major infrastructure projects to Iloilo, including the local airport expansion, road widening, the Iloilo Convention Center, and the Esplanade, considers the JRMP II his most challenging and rewarding legacy. He expressed pride in the project’s potential to boost local farmers’ productivity and reduce rice prices through increased supply.

With the dam’s major components, including the 109-meter high dam and associated structures, nearly completed, and the 80.74-kilometer high line canal over 50 percent finished, the project is set to have a lasting impact on the region’s economy and food security.