Aquino inaugurates dam, other projects in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday led the inauguration of an P11.2-billion dam in Iloilo, considered the largest dam outside of Luzon.

The President presided over the ceremonial switch-on of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage 2 at the the Eon Centennial Resort and Convention Center here, the venue of the two-day First International River Summit where Mr. Aquino was main guest during its culmination.

The project is financed through a $203-million official development assistance by the South Korean government through its Export-Import Bank’s Economic Cooperation Fund. The Philippine government’s counterpart fund amounted to P2.2 billion.

The two-phase project will involve the construction of a 102-meter dam and 6.6-megawatt hydropower plant, according to Senator Franklin Drilon who briefed the President on the project.

Drilon said the project would help increase Iloilo’s rice self-sufficiency by raising production from 141,495 metric tons to 287,958 tons per annum and sugarcane from 112,250 metric tons to 150,000 metric tons per annum.

It is expected to benefit over 24,000 farmers in the province,

The project, which will start next year and set to be completed in 2016, will also boost water supply for domestic and industrial use by an additional 86,400 cubic meters per day for the city and neighboring communities for the next 30 years.

During the construction period, at least 17,000 jobs are expected to be generated, said Drilon.

But militant partylist groups have questioned the feasibility and safety of the project.

Representatives Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna on May 8 filed House Resolution No. 2387, directing the House committee on natural resources to conduct an onsite investigation on the project’s viability.

They said in their resolution that the areas covered by the project include those along the West Panay Fault. They also cited concerns by environment groups of flooding and landslides in the event a major earthquake damages the dam.

Mr. Aquino in a news conference said the Iloilo airport would be upgraded in preparation for direct international flights this year. He told reporters that the Iloilo airport would be another international gateway to the world-famous Boracay Island in Aklan. The capital town of Kalibo, Aklan, is about three hours by bus from Iloilo. To get to Boracay, tourists will have to take another bus to Barangay Caticlan in Malay town, which is about one-and-a-half hours from Kalibo. Boracay is about 20-minute boat ride away from Caticlan.

President Aquino said the development of international airports is essential in accommodating foreign tourists expected to reach about 4.8 million this year.

Mr. Aquino inaugurated the new seven-story Iloilo City Hall where he distributed PhilHealth cards to indigents and received a briefing on government projects in the city. While here, 70 Bayan protesters displayed placards near the City Hall. Bayan-Panay chapter claimed that five of their members were briefly held, which was denied by Iloilo City police director Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio.

President Aquino also inspected the 1.2-kilometer Iloilo River Esplanade Project in Mandurriao District worth P58.7 million.