P250 million sought to extend lifespan of Magat Dam
MAJOR INFRA The 41-year-old Magat Dam, shown in this file photo, in Isabela is vital to the agriculture industry in Cagayan Valley as it supplies irrigation water to farmlands in the region. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.
RAMON, ISABELA — The 41-year-old Magat Dam here will need at least P250 million to fund feasibility studies to ensure its viability as a major source of irrigation and power, an official of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said.
In an interview with local reporters this week, Gileu Michael Dimoloy, the NIA Magat River Irrigation System department manager, said the agency had submitted the fund proposal to the National Economic and Development Authority for approval. The NIA, he said, also sought funding assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency in the form of a grant so the government could save on costs.
The feasibility studies would include an assessment to determine if dredging and mitigating the risks of natural disasters would be necessary to improve the capacity and service life of the reservoir, Dimoloy said.
Built in the mid-1970s and opened in October 1982 during the administration of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Magat Dam had undergone retrofitting in April. The scope of work included its spillway, bridge, spillway short lock, and drainage galleries.
Urgency
Dimoloy noted the urgency of feasibility studies and retrofitting as the dam’s lifespan “is nearly reached.”
Considered one of the largest water reservoirs in the country, Magat Dam is the major source of irrigation for about 85,000 hectares of farmland, data from the NIA showed. It also generates 540 megawatts of hydroelectric power, supplying electricity to the entire Isabela and northern Luzon grids.
Massive siltation, sedimentation, slash-and-burn farming, illegal logging and fish caging resulted in the deterioration of the dam’s watershed, Dimoloy noted.
He said the 1990 Luzon earthquake could have also contributed to the increased siltation in the reservoir.
Regular repairs made to the dam continue to help the dam’s structural strength endure natural calamities like earthquakes and typhoons, Dimoloy said, adding that feasibility studies would “ensure the integrity and stability” of the facility. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.
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