NIA-6: Daewoo Did Not Back Out of Jalaur Project

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The National Irrigation Administration Region 6 has clarified that South Korean contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction did not withdraw from the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo.

“There was no back-out from Daewoo Engineering and Construction,” JRMP II spokesperson Steve Cordero said in a March 2025 interview with GMA Super Radyo Iloilo.

“Their contract ended on Nov. 15, 2024, and they fulfilled their scope of work.”

He noted that the project is now under a defects notification period, with some minor works still pending completion.

Cordero explained that NIA and Daewoo mutually agreed to amend the civil works contract, reducing the scope of the international contractor’s responsibilities.

Under the revised agreement, Daewoo focused on completing three major dam structures:

• Jalaur High Dam (109 meters)
• Jalaur Afterbay Dam (38.5 meters)
• River Catch Dam (10 meters)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inaugurated the three dams in July 2024.

While Daewoo completed the dam components, it constructed only 16 kilometers of the planned 80-kilometer high-line canal before the contract ended.

Cordero said the firm encountered difficulties due to Iloilo’s rugged terrain and the canal’s complex construction requirements.

As of February 2025, the JRMP II is 77.53 percent complete, with most ongoing work focused on irrigation canal construction.

Following Daewoo’s contract completion, NIA-6 engaged over 10 local contractors under the Local Minor Contract scheme to continue the canal works.

Cordero said this strategy allows NIA to leverage local expertise and accelerate construction.

Multiple sections of the canal are being built simultaneously to meet the deadline set by NIA’s central office and President Marcos.

The project is expected to become fully operational by late 2026 or early 2027.

Cordero assured the public that project funding remains intact.

He said the Department of Budget and Management has allocated the required resources.

He added that NIA continues to coordinate with the Office of the President, DBM, and the Department of Finance for any additional funding needs.

JRMP II is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Western Visayas.

It aims to enhance irrigation, secure water supply, and increase agricultural productivity across the region.