MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need for the government to speed up the completion of its infrastructure projects as he inaugurated a P20-billion hydroelectric dam project in Iloilo province, the construction of which took 40 years.
In his speech during the unveiling of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage 2 (JRMP II), Marcos lamented that the second phase of the project alone took more than 13 years.
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“The Senate President reminded me that he has been working at this [project] for 13 years and I think it is entirely too long that the Phase I that was completed in my father’s time … the Phase II should be completed in my time,” he said, referring to former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who was present at the event.
“We should not have waited that long. I think we need to accelerate the process a little bit,” the President added.
Economic benefits
JRMP II, tauted to be the largest water reservoir project outside Luzon, includes three dams in Calinog town and a high line canal that traverses nine towns from Calinog to Oton.
Its first stage was completed in 1982 during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the incumbent’s father. The National Irrigation Administration broke ground for the JRMP II in 2013, but actual construction work started only in 2019. In his speech, President Marcos said JRMP II has three key components—irrigation, flood mitigation and tourism.
“Our water development projects would not just bring irrigation or potable water to our people, but will also help address flooding, produce food, generate electricity, and develop tourism activities,” he said.
Marcos expressed optimism that the project would boost agricultural production and the local economy in Western Visayas, with an estimated increase in annual rice production of 160,000 metric tons, which, he said is about 20 percent of the region’s annual rice requirement.
“On top of its use for irrigation, a portion of the water from the high dam’s reservoir, or around 86 million liters per day, will be utilized to supply the commercial and industrial bulk water requirements of Iloilo City and its neighboring municipalities,” he said.
The President also expressed gratitude to the government of South Korea, which extended a $207-million loan to the country through its Export-Import Bank, payable in 30 years.
“Indeed, this venture is not only a symbol of our strong friendship and our long-standing ties, but also our reminder of a shared desire for growth and for development,” he said.