ILOILO CITY – Two warring groups of a native tribe are again at odds over the government’s P11.2-billion mega dam project in Calinog town, Iloilo province.
The Jalaur River for the People’s Movement revived their opposition against the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Phase II (JRMP-II), the priority project of the Aquino administration and Senate President Franklin Drilon.
But Calinog Councilor Renato Casinao belied claims by militants that natives in the area who supported the project were paid by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-6).
Casinao expressed disappointment that militants are still pushing the issue to further delay the actual construction of JRMP-II, which is designed to irrigate 32,000 hectares of farmland and boost Iloilo’s food security.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. meantime remains optimistic the mega dam project will be realized, noting that funds are sufficient enough for the project.
Of the P11.2-billion, P8.9 billion came from a loan approved by South Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund.
(TARA YAP)