WHILE CONSTRUCTION for the P11-billion Jalaur megadam in Calinog, Iloilo has yet to start more than seven years after its groundbreaking, another dam project has been lined up by national government. The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II is on hold due to a legal case over the bidding process. Meantime, the P19.3-billion Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project (PRBIDP) in Capiz, included in the Duterte government’s priority infrastructure list, is scheduled to commence in 2018, according to the National Irrigation Administration-Western Visayas regional office (NIA-6). Regional Manager Gerardo P. Corsiga said the feasibility study (FS) for the project is already completed and will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Central Office for further evaluation. “We already have the endorsement from the Regional Development Council. The next step will be the submission of the FS to NEDA,” Mr. Corsiga said in a radio interview. He added that they are also waiting for confirmation on the funding scheme, but the Chinese government has previously expressed interest to finance the dam project. “Approval of projects is fast under the Duterte administration, so hopefully early next year we can have the signing of the loan agreement… then start the implementation,” he said. The PRBIDP is designed to serve 15 towns of Capiz province, including Roxas City, as well as neighboring municipalities in Iloilo such as Lemery, San Rafael and Bingawan. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

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