ILOILO CITY — The National Irrigation Administration in Western Visayas (NIA-6) is hiring around 17,000 workers for the construction of the long-delayed PHP11.2 billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) II in Calinog, Iloilo.
“Those interested could just go to our municipal hall,” said Mayor Alex Centena, in a media interview on Thursday. The available positions are for laborer, masonry, welder and driver.
While they are prioritizing local jobseekers, Centena said they could not occupy all the available jobs.
“That is why it is open to all,” he said.
Centena said the multi-billion dam project is 100 percent sure to be constructed as he confirmed that the contract signing for the project is scheduled on September 3 at the NIA’s Administration Complex in Quezon City.
It will be attended by representatives from NIA, project’s contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd, Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM Bank), Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
Centena said they are expecting that the ceremonial groundbreaking of the project may happen within September or October.
They have already inspected the area on Wednesday to look for possible site where the groundbreaking will be conducted, he added.
He said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is interested to lead the groundbreaking, which will signal the start of the project’s construction, which is expected to be completed after six years.
The PHP11.2 billion JRMP II is funded by a loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of South Korea.
Once completed, JRMP II will be the biggest dam outside of Luzon.
It covers the construction of the 109-meter Jalaur High Dam, 38.5-meter Afterbay Dam, 10-meter Alibutan Catch Dam, 80.74-kilometer Highline Canal, and its appurtenant structures.
The dam will provide year-round irrigation to more than 33,000 hectares of rice land in the province.
It will also generate hydro-electric power of 6.6 megawatts and around 86,400 cubic meters per day of potable water for domestic use. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
