By Vincent P. Grecia
Ilonggo former Senator Franklin Drilon is hopeful that the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II will be operational by 2025 as it will help boost food security in Iloilo if not the entire Western Visayas region.
Drilon, who was instrumental in the realization of the PhP 11.2 billion project, together with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 6 Regional Manager Engr. Jonel Borres, together with other NIA personnel, visited the project site in Calinog on October 18, 2023 to check on its status.
It was the second time that Drilon visited the project site, the first visit was on June 23, 2022.
According to NIA 6, JRMP II has a completion rate of 69.23 percent and the contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction assured that it will finish the project by December 2024.
During his ocular visit, Drilon expressed satisfaction with the work of the contractor and he is optimistic that they could meet the project’s target completion.
It can be recalled that the national government added PhP 8.4 million to the budget of JRMP II.
Borres said the additional budget will be used to cover inflation and tax payments and not for civil works.
