Laguna Lake water level nears critical mark amid persistent rains

LUCENA CITY — The water level of Laguna de Bay rose to 12.23 meters Friday afternoon, bringing it closer to the critical high-water mark, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) reported.

In an advisory, the LLDA said near-real-time monitoring through its Radar Level Sensors (RLS) recorded the lake’s water level at 12.23 meters as of 1 p.m., up from 12.17 meters at 7 a.m.

The agency said the lake’s water level had risen by 930 millimeters, or 0.93 meters, in just nine days—from Aug. 6 to 14.

READ: Laguna de Bay water level rises, remains below critical mark

The LLDA identified 10.50 meters as the critical low-water level and 12.50 meters as the critical high-water level. At 12.23 meters, Laguna Lake remains within the normal-to-safe transition range but is only 27 centimeters below the critical high mark.

The agency attributed the continued rise to persistent rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon.

“While current elevations remain well below the critical high-water mark, the lake acts as a natural catch basin for the surrounding watersheds of Rizal, Laguna, and parts of Metro Manila. Continuous moderate to heavy rains will trigger a steady rise in water levels in the coming weeks,” the LLDA said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the southwest monsoon continued to bring heavy rains over parts of Luzon and the Visayas on Friday, triggering flooding in several areas and prompting some local governments to suspend classes.

The habagat could intensify in the coming days as Pagasa forecast the possible formation of a low-pressure area inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) between Sunday and early next week.

The LLDA urged low-lying lakeshore communities and local governments to brace for possible flooding and to free drainage systems and tributary rivers leading to Laguna de Bay./coa