ILOILO CITY—The bulk of construction work for the P11.2-billion megadam project in Iloilo has been suspended due to a COVID-19 outbreak that hit its workers.
The municipal government of Calinog in Iloilo has ordered the temporary shut down of the Temporary Facilities Yard of Korean contractor Daewoo Engineering & Construction (DEC) at Barangay Agcalaga from September 11 to 23 after 37 workers including two Koreans were infected.
Most of those infected have mild COVID-19 symptoms and are in isolation, according to a statement of the Jalaur Multi-purpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) management.
The work stoppage has affected work in the DEC office, batching plant as well as the high dam and afterbay dam, among the major components of the project.
Work in other work sites including the high line canal continues if the employees are not residing or working at the main office and if they have not been exposed to the infected personnel.
A total work suspension was also implemented for two weeks on April 28 due to an outbreak at the construction area after about 75 personnel including Korean consultants were infected.
Despite the pandemic, the megadam project is set to be completed in 2023 and expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024.
The JRMP II, the biggest megadam project outside of Luzon, includes three dams (reservoir, afterbay and catch dams), a 6.6- megawatt hydro power plant and an 81-kilometer highline canal.
The Korean contractor completed the 310-meter diversion tunnel and 30.21-meter upstream cofferdam last year.
Construction is ongoing for other components including the 109-meter high dam 10.65-meter downstream cofferdam.
The megadam plant is expected to produce 86,400 cubic meters of water per day and will boost Iloilo’s palay production by 141,000 metric tons or 71 percent.
The project is being implemented under a US$203-loan agreement with the South Korean government through the Korea Eximbank. The counterpart fund from the Philippine government amounts to P2.2 billion.