A MULTIPURPOSE irrigation project worth P19.7 billion is set to be completed this year, with the potential to irrigate around 9,500 hectares of farms to boost local rice production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP), an infrastructure project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), is expected to become fully operational by mid-2025.

"This project, which we expect to complete within the year and be fully operational by mid-2025, will greatly contribute to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision of increasing food production and helping our farmers have better lives," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. during his inspection of the project on Wednesday.

As of the end of January, the DA said that the project has achieved 74 percent of its physical goals and 70 percent of its financial objectives.

The Jalaur River Basin is the second-largest river basin on Panay island, according to the DA. It also serves the irrigation needs of Iloilo province, known as the agricultural hub and primary rice producer of Western Visayas.

The water project's canal network spans 80 kilometers and has three dams with a hydroelectric power station.

Tiu Laurel said that the JRMP project will cover 23 towns and two cities in Iloilo, and will boost rice production in the region by 71 percent to 338,000 metric tons (MT).

Last year, Iloilo ranked fifth among rice-producing areas in terms of production with a total output of 1.07 million MT, up from 1.02 million MT in 2022.

The province followed Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan and Cagayan in rice output.

A collaboration among 28 national agencies, the project also has diverse components such as a 6.6-megawatt power generation facility, bulk water provision, support for fisheries and tourism, flood control measures, Indigenous housing initiatives and carbon sequestration efforts.

"We also appreciate the project funding provided by [the] government of South Korea, through the Korea Eximbank and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea," said Tiu Laurel.

The Agriculture chief added that the JRMP demonstrates NIA's dedication to promoting agricultural innovation and improving rural livelihoods.

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