Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. inspected the nearly-complete second phase of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) on February 14, 2024. The P19.7-billion infrastructure development project of the National Irrigation Administration, once fully operational, will increase rice production and benefit 25,000 farmers and 4,500 indigenous people in Iloilo province.

JRMP II, which will benefit 23 towns  and 2 cities  in Iloilo, will irrigate 9,500 hectares of rainfed farms on top the existing 22,340 hectares, thus increasing rice output by 71 percent to 338,000 metric tons. Aside from providing water supply to rained farms, JRMP II also has a 6.6-megaWatt power generation, bulk water, fishery, tourism, flood control, housing for indigenous people, and carbon sequestration components. ### (photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)