MANILA, Philippines – Water was released Tuesday from four dams in Luzon as continuous rains spawned by Typhoon “Pedring” brought their levels to spilling level if they haven’t spilled over yet.
Roy Badilla, a hydrologist of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, said Ipo dam released an estimated 198 cubic meters per second and was expected to affect the municipality of Norzagaray, Bulacan.
Ambuklao and Binga dams released an estimated 130 and 255 cubic meters per second of water respectively that would have flowed downstream into the San Roque dam, which was still 15.73 meters below its spilling level, Badilla said.
Meanwhile, water released from Magat dam went into the Magat River and affected the municipalities of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian and Gamu in Isabela. Magat dam flows into the Cagayan River, which has enough capacity to accommodate increased flood waters, said Badilla.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Pagasa said two gates were opened at one meter each from the Ipo and Ambuklao dams while Binga dam opened three and Magat dam one, with openings of two meters each.
Water at the Ipo dam reached 100.5 meters, over and above its spilling level of 100.2 meters; the Ambuklao dam, 761.21 meters, with spilling level at 762.0; Binga, 572.96, spilling level at 575; Magat, 188.33, spilling level at 193.
The National Risk Reduction and Management Council advised residents near Magat Dam to take precautionary measures and be on alert for the expected increase in water levels. Frances Mangosing