NIA-6 awaits Iloilo City proposal to tap Jalaur Dam water

ILOILO CITY — The National Irrigation Administration 6 (NIA-6) is open to talks with the Iloilo City government on a possible plan to source water directly from the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog if the city’s water shortage worsens during the anticipated El Niño.

Steve Cordero, division manager of NIA-6’s Institutional Development Division, said the agency has not yet received a formal proposal or request for coordination from the city government.

While the plan is possible, Cordero said the distance between Calinog and Iloilo City could make transporting water costly.

“We are not closing our doors on this. We just need additional details about this plan, and they need to coordinate with our office. If there is such a plan, it has to be discussed with us properly,” Cordero said in an interview on Tuesday.

He emphasized that the Jalaur project’s water allocation is primarily for irrigation, which any proposal to divert water for the city’s needs must consider.

“We are willing to coordinate with them if they intend to push through with this plan,” he said.

Cordero said NIA-6 would wait for a meeting or formal coordination with the city government to understand the plan, including its intended approach and requirements.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during the project’s inauguration in July 2024 that a portion of the water from the high dam’s reservoir will supply the commercial and industrial bulk water requirements of Iloilo City and nearby municipalities.

On Monday, Neil Ravena, logistics officer of the city’s Crisis Management Council, said the city was considering sourcing water from outside the city if assessments showed that existing supplies would be insufficient.

Options include getting water directly from the Jalaur Dam.

Ravena said a team is conducting field surveys to identify other available water sources and determine how many residents depend on water deliveries.

Once the data are consolidated, the city government will estimate water demand in each barangay and compare it with the projected supply deficit and the capacity of bulk water suppliers.

“If we can determine how large the gap is, we will know whether we need to source water from outside the city,” Ravena said.

He added that the city would also need to coordinate with the provincial government if it pursued the plan.

Iloilo City was placed under a state of calamity in April 2024 because of water scarcity linked to El Niño.

Ravena said fuel cost was a major consideration because transporting water from Calinog to Iloilo City could entail substantial expenses.

Aside from transportation, the plan would still require technical infrastructure, permits, assured water quality, and coordination among several agencies and governments.

Water released from the river or reservoir would generally require treatment before distribution to households.

The plan would also require coordination with the Metro Iloilo Water District, the National Water Resources Board, and other agencies.