SAN ROQUE MULTI-PURPOSE DAM

LINGAYEN–Was the funding for the irrigation component of the 245-megawatt San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) cancelled?

Gov. Amado Espino Jr., who expressed surprise of over the report, said he will seek an official inquiry on the matter even as he expressed optimism that the reports are unfounded.

“We will make an official inquiry so we will not be in the dark,” Espino said when asked by The PUNCH during the open forum of the orientation on the Provincial and Local Planning and Expenditure Management Guidelines attended by various regional directors held here Wednesday.

The irrigation component, costing about P2.5 billion, has already been delayed for about five years now.

When completed, it is projected to serve 35,000 hectares under phase 1 and another 35,000 hectares under phase 2 within Pangasinan and Tarlac.

Reports indicate that JBIC’s decision to cancel the funding was a result of the strong lobbying by a militant farmers’ group following the killing two years ago of Jose Doton, a peasant leader.

San Roque Dam is currently used for power ge-neration and flood mitigation.

Meanwhile, Vice Go-vernor  Marlyn Agabas, presiding officer of the provincial board, said she will invite representatives from the regional offices of the Agno Flood Control Office and the National Irrigation Administration to their session for an update on the issue. #