25 mayors support P11.2B Jalaur project

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Calinog town Mayor Alex Centena, together with other mayors of 22 towns and two cities in Iloilo province, will come up with a resolution of no objection over the P 11.2-billion Jalaur Multi-Purpose Project II in Calinog to counter the writ of kalikasan issued by the Supreme Court (SC) last year.

The mayors were from the towns of Lambunao, Badiangan, Janiuay, Cabatuan, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, Alimodian, Leon, San Miguel, Oton, Tigbauan, Duenas, San Enrique, Anilao, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Mina, New Lucena, Pototan, Zarraga and Leganes, and the cities of Iloilo and Passi.

Centena said all these mayors met last March 4 at the Iloilo Capitol and decided to come up with the resolution that will be furnished to the SC.

Once finished, the project will help in regulating and controlling floods caused by the Jalaur River, storing its waters and using them irrigate agriculture lands in the Jalaur Valley and generating and transmitting electric power and energy among 180 villages in Iloilo, city of Passi and 23 neighboring towns.

Earlier, Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. said the writ of kalikasan issued by the SC against the construction of Jalaur project does not stop the work because the court did not issue any temporary environment protection order.

“The SC did not issue a temporary environmental protection order as requested by former 2nd district Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, so this could not stop the work there, unless there is an order,” the governor said, adding that site clearing and other engineering works are going on now. — (FREEMAN)