BAGUIO CITY––Two hydroelectric dams in Benguet province began discharging water on Monday, July 26, as the level reached the critical mark due to the torrential rains spawned by the southwest monsoon, authorities said.
The Ambuklao Dam in Itogon town opened one of its gates at midnight Monday. The dam’s water level reached 750.95 meters above sea level (masl) around 3 a.m. on Monday, less than two meters below its normal high level of 752 masl.
Binga Dam also opened one of its gates at 3 a.m. Monday. It was at 572.89 masl on Monday morning, less than three meters from its normal high level of 575 masl.
In Bokod town, Mayor Thomas Wales Jr. announced that the Poblacion-Karao Road was temporarily closed due to a landslide in the area around 6 p.m. Sunday.
Clearing operations were underway along the Labey-Lacamen Road, also in Bokod, due to the impact of the downpour.