Flood alert up after dams free water

AMBUKLAO dam

Four dams in Luzon have opened their gates to prevent water levels from breaching their tops and averting possible damage to the structures.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hydrological services said that the Ipo, Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque dams opened their gates to normalize water levels.

But Pagasa raised the alarm for residents of at least 10 municipalities—San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Asingan, Villasis, Alcala, Bautista, Rosales and Bayambang in Pangasinan—which may be submerged as an effect of the water released from San Roque Dam.

Pagasa hydrologist Nivagine Nievares said that by 12 p.m. Sunday, Ambuklao Dam in Benguet opened two gates, Binga Dam in Ifugao, Benguet, opened three gates, and San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, which catches most of the water from Ambuklao and Binga, opened two gates.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, meanwhile, was placed on red alert after its water mark threatened to reach the spilling level of 80.15 meters as rains continued to pound Metro Manila.

By 2 p.m., the water level in the dam was at 79.81 meters. La Mesa Dam has been on red alert since last week and residents living near the Tullahan River have been advised to be vigilant against possible flooding.