NIA hoping for more rains as Angat level dips further

STILL LOW | Despite the rains, the water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan province remains low, as shown by the exposed banks surrounding the reservoir in this photo taken on June 5. On Thursday, the water level at the dam was at least 34 meters below its high water level of 210 meters above sea level. —Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines—It has been raining in Bulacan in the past few days, but the volume of rainfall is still not enough to improve the reservoir level, which will enable the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to supply water to farms in the Central Luzon region.

Josephine Salazar, NIA regional director, said they have been praying for more rain in the coming weeks to sustain the wet cropping season next month.

Angat Dam’s level on Thursday was 175.9 meters above sea level (masl), a slight increase from the 175.55 masl recorded on Wednesday. The reservoir level was still about 4 meters below its low operating level of 180 masl and 34.1 meters below its normal high water level of 210 masl.

Bulacan, including the Angat watershed, has been experiencing rains in the afternoons and almost every night since late May when the El Niño weather phenomenon started to weaken. Still, the volume was not enough to improve the reservoir level.

The dam elevation dropped by more than a meter in just a day, from 175.94 masl on Sunday to 175.87 masl on Monday, as shown by data from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

The reservoir level was measured at 175.62 masl on June 20; 177.24 masl on June 17; and 179.04 masl on June 3.

The dam’s elevation was last recorded at its low operating level of 180.07 masl on May 22.

On May 30, when the dry season cropping ended, NIA stopped its irrigation supply as rains took over in watering farms.

Supply is set to resume on July 15 for the irrigation needs of more than 22,000 farmers cultivating 27,000 hectares of rice fields in 16 towns in Bulacan and four towns in Pampanga, according to Carlos Dimaapi, acting president of farmers dependent on the Angat Maasim River Irrigation System.

READ: Angat Dam level slightly up due to southwest monsoon

“The projection of the weather bureau is quite good,” Salazar said, noting that supply for irrigation will continue as scheduled as there is no change in their program.

—CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE