Bulacan dams release water as reservoir levels hit critical mark
PRECIOUS RESOURCE The Angat Dam in Bulacan, shown in this photo taken in June 2024 has started releasing water as its level starts reaching the critical mark. Ipo and Bustos dams, also in Bulacan, are also releasing water to manage the flow along the province’s waterways. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE
CITY OF MALOLOS — The three major dams in Bulacan province—Angat, Ipo, and Bustos—began releasing water as their elevations reached critical levels, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) on Thursday.
Angat Dam started releasing water at a rate of 70 cubic meters per second (cms) on Wednesday afternoon after its water level reached 214.53 meters above sea level (masl), surpassing its normal high of 212 masl. By Thursday morning, the dam’s level stood at 214.28 masl.
On Thursday, Ipo Dam, nearing its spilling level of 101 masl, released 66.70 cms of water as its elevation reached 100.81 masl. Bustos Dam, with a level of 17.28 meters—just below its spilling point of 17.3 meters—released 106 cms of water. Both Ipo and Bustos dams catch the runoff from Angat.
But PDRRMO head Manuel Lukban Jr. assured residents that the releases remained manageable and would not cause overflows along the Angat River.
“The releases are minimal, averaging 80 cms across the three dams,” Lukban told the Inquirer.
The rise in Angat Dam’s water level was attributed to continuous rainfall in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.
Data showed that the reservoir exceeded its 212.00 masl normal high in late December, climbing from 205.21 masl on Dec. 23 to 213.04 masl by Jan. 2.
Angat Dam officials delayed releasing water until Wednesday, prioritizing the reservoir’s full capacity to supply La Mesa Dam, which provides up to 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water supply.
Impact on farmers
Carlos Dimaapi, president of the Angat Maasim River Irrigators Association, expressed optimism about the sufficient water supply for Bulacan and Pampanga farmers.
Over 22,000 farmers irrigating 27,000 hectares of rice fields benefit from the current 15-18 cms water allocation by the National Irrigation Administration.
According to Dimaapi, the abundant water supply ensures the possibility of a third cropping season from late October to January 2026, following the second season from May to August.
“Water for irrigation will be cut off on April 15, but by then, our grains will already be ready for harvest,” he said in a separate interview.
But Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando called the water release as a “wasteful approach” that could have preserved resources for farmers during the dry season.
He said that national infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Bayabas Dam in Bulacan, are already underway to store excess water for future agricultural use.
“These projects will finally address the issue of wasted dam water and ensure reserves for our farmers,” Fernando said in an interview.
