Calinog: Thirty-two housing units were officially turned over Tuesday to Indigenous Peoples (IP) families affected by the second stage of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP II). The IP Housing Project, located in Sitio Agburi, Barangay Cahigon in Calinog town, is designed for families whose homes were submerged by water in the reservoir and buffer zone.
According to Philippines News Agency, the housing project is situated approximately 10 km upstream of the dam project to ensure the safety of the relocated families. “The recipients opted for a group relocation or the house-to-house compensation. Each family availed of a 35-square-meter single detached house in a 150-square-meter lot,” said Steve Cordero, the OIC Division Manager for Institutional Development of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 6 (Western Visayas), in an interview on Wednesday.
Cordero mentioned that NIA has committed to providing the families with individual titles for their new homes. The resettlement site is equipped with a water system funded by Iloilo’s provincial government and a sewerage system connected to wastewater management. Plans are underway to establish a multi-purpose building and pavement in the area.
“Our relocation is part of our 140 commitments. Around 85 percent of the 140 have been complied with, including this relocation,” Cordero noted, adding that other commitments will be delivered during the operation of the project. In addition to housing, NIA plans to establish a community livelihood area adjacent to the relocation site, which will be managed by the homeowners’ association.
“On top of that, we have a commitment for each affected family for an income restoration through the provision of a livelihood program worth PHP40,000 and up. For this, we partner with the Department of Labor and Employment,” Cordero explained.
As of September, the overall physical accomplishment of the JRMP II stands at 80.90 percent. While the construction of the three dams is complete, work continues on the irrigation components, including the high-line canal and portions of the mini-lateral canals. The target completion date for all components is set for June 2027.
