4 big dams continue to spill water

AMBUKLAO dam

Four dams kept on releasing water Thursday while three others were spilling excess water, dampening hopes of an early recovery for the flood-stricken provinces in Central Luzon.

Water expelled by San Roque Dam in Pangasinan through two gates was expected to submerge low-lying towns in the province and Tarlac with the swelling of the Agno River and its tributaries, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

At 11 a.m. Thursday, Pagasa’s Hydrometeorology Division (HMD) recorded the dam’s water level at 281.55 meters, which was over its full capacity of 280 meters.

Water levels at Ipo Dam in Bulacan, Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, and Binga Dam in Ifugao neared their maximum, prompting authorities to continue to release water through the two gates of each facility.

Thursday’s level reading at Ipo Dam was 100.25 meters, close to its peak of 100.80 meters. At Ambuklao Dam, it was 751.22 meters, which was near its full capacity of 752 meters. Binga Dam’s level was measured at 573.75 meters, close to the maximum of 575 meters.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was past its spilling level of 80.15 meters when it was measured at 80.39 meters before noon Thursday. The excess water bloated the Tullahan River, submerging houses in Quezon City, as well as in Valenzuela and Malabon cities.

Angat Dam in Bulacan and Magat Dam in Isabela have also recorded breaches in their spilling levels. Water level at Angat Dam reached 211.83 meters, past the full capacity of 210 meters, while the reading at Magat Dam was 191.68 meters or beyond the spilling level of 190 meters.

No release Friday

Rodolfo German, general manager of the Angat River Hydroelectric Power Plant (Arhepp), said the plant would no longer proceed with a scheduled release of water Friday to avoid aggravating the flood situation in the province.

“Angat Dam can take the volume of water. The reservoir could accommodate up to 218 meters above sea level of water,” he said. “Dam release is necessary but we have to observe this time … the volume of water flowing into Bulacan towns from nearby provinces.”

With the swelling of the Agno River following the release of water from the San Roque Dam, Pagasa expected floods to remain in the low-lying areas of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Binmaley, Binalonan, Malasiqui towns and the cities of Urdaneta and Dagupan, all in Pangasinan.

It said other areas in Mangaldan, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Laoac, Manaoag, Sison and Pozorrubio towns would be vulnerable to flooding.

Villages flooded

The inflow from the tributaries of Agno River and San Roque Dam’s excess water will keep villages flooded in Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Bugallon, Labrador and Lingayen, all in Pangasinan, and threaten to swamp San Nicolas, San Manuel, Asingan, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Balungao, Rosales, Villasis and Sto. Tomas.

Pagasa said that with the slow rise of the Tarlac and Camiling Rivers, flooding would persist in San Manuel, Tarlac City, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, Sta. Ignacia and Camiling, all in Tarlac.  With a report from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon