Environmental group seeks transparency on Jalaur dam risks

By Juliane Judilla

ILOILO CITY — An environmental group has renewed calls for greater transparency, disaster preparedness, and an independent assessment of risks surrounding the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II), particularly as Iloilo remains vulnerable to typhoons, intense rainfall, and other hazards.

The Jalaur River for the People Movement (JRPM) said the completion and impounding of the Jalaur High Dam have significantly transformed the river system by placing a massive volume of water in a reservoir above downstream communities.

In a statement, the group said the dam is designed to hold about 250.7 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to more than 250 billion liters, behind a 109-meter-high structure in a mountainous watershed.

“This enormous volume of water, held above downstream communities, demands serious attention to dam safety, watershed conditions, disaster preparedness and public access to information,” JRPM said.

JRMP II is the National Irrigation Administration’s flagship project in Western Visayas and is designed to provide year-round irrigation to 31,840 hectares of farmland, along with hydropower, bulk water, flood-mitigation, and other benefits.

The group cited the catastrophic Aug. 26 flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border as a reminder of how extreme events can rapidly overwhelm communities and infrastructure in mountainous areas.

The Nepal-Tibet disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse that sent water, mud, and debris through downstream valleys, damaging communities and infrastructure, including hydropower facilities.

JRPM stressed, however, that it was not claiming that the same type of event would occur in Jalaur.

Rather, the group said the incident demonstrates the need for communities downstream of large reservoirs to prepare for hazards that could develop rapidly, particularly in mountainous and interconnected watersheds.

According to JRPM, the Jalaur watershed is exposed to typhoons, intense rainfall, landslides, erosion, and earthquakes.

The group also pointed to concerns identified in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement involving dam stability, earthquakes, typhoons, flash floods, and climate change.

JRPM said portions of the Ulian and Alibunan rivers were identified as vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and erosion under dam-break or water-release scenarios.

“With climate change altering rainfall patterns and increasing the possibility of extreme weather, these risks cannot simply be considered settled because the dam has been completed,” JRPM said.

Calls for public disclosure

JRPM said downstream communities should have access to information on the dam’s current water levels, operating rules, emergency procedures, and areas that could potentially be affected by sudden water releases or dam failure.

The group also called for the public disclosure of geological and structural monitoring results and downstream inundation maps.

JRPM said barangays should have clearly identified evacuation routes and shelters, reliable warning and communication systems, and regular disaster drills.

Local governments and residents, it added, should know which authorities are responsible for issuing warnings, how quickly those warnings can be delivered, and what actions communities should take during an emergency.

JRPM also emphasized that dam safety should not be considered separately from watershed protection.

Forest degradation, erosion, unstable slopes, sedimentation, and poorly planned development could affect both the reservoir and downstream communities, the group said.

It called for meaningful participation by communities, farmers, Indigenous peoples, local scientists, and environmental organizations in monitoring the project and protecting the watershed.

NIA defends dam safety

In response to calls for greater scrutiny, NIA Region 6 said the Jalaur High Dam can withstand major structural and seismic risks.

NIA cited a safety factor three times higher than standard requirements, multiple geological validations, and real-time monitoring systems in defending the dam’s safety.

NIA Region 6 spokesperson Steve Cordero said seismic risks, including an active fault line in the area, were factored into the dam’s design.

Cordero also said the dam uses an ungated spillway that allows excess water to flow naturally once it reaches the spillway level, rather than relying on manually operated gates.

The dam has a foundation gallery equipped with instruments that monitor structural and foundation movements in real time, while NIA also has an emergency action plan covering rising water levels and seismic events, according to Cordero.

The agency’s response came as JRPM continued to press for independent verification of the project’s safety assessments.

The environmental group challenged NIA to make its supporting documents and calculations available for public scrutiny.

“The question is not whether NIA can assure us that the Jalaur Dam is safe. The question is whether NIA can prove it,” JRPM said.

Calls for independent reassessment

JRPM said an independent assessment should examine risks associated with extreme rainfall, landslides, earthquakes, sedimentation, and debris flows.

The group also maintained that the long-term future of the Jalaur Mega Dam should remain open to independent reassessment, including possible decommissioning or dismantling if scientific evidence eventually establishes that its risks to communities and the environment cannot be adequately controlled.

“Disaster risk must be taken seriously before disaster occurs,” JRPM said, stressing that residents of Calinog and downstream communities deserve transparency, preparedness, and meaningful participation in decisions affecting the river system, their safety, and their future.