Unmindful of the risk, a man wades through a flooded road–with the submerged cornfield on its side–as 4,000-cubic-meter-per-second Magat dam water releases caused massive flooding in Isabela on Sunday.
(VILLAMOR VISAYA JR./INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON)
The state weather bureau said that the continuous rains from Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) have brought a “beneficial effect” to major dams in Luzon.
“Typhoons are disastrous but to the dams, it is beneficial,” said Pagasa hydrologist Danilo Flores in a televised press briefing on Monday.
In Angat Dam in Bulacan, which supplies most of Metro Manila’s water needs, the water level has increased by 7.21 meters. From 194.60 meters, it increased to 201.81 meters in 28 hours.
In Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, its water level of 195.18 meters increased to 200.37 meters.
In Magat Dam, the water level increased from 191.97 meters to 193.83 meters.
San Roque Dam’s water level increased from 276.36 meters to 278.14 meters.
In Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, water rose from 749.27 meters to 751.35 meters.
Both Ambuklao and Binga opened two gates, Flores said.
Water from these dams will go to San Roque in Pangasinan, which is still far from its spilling level, he added.
Lando is moving slowly due to a high pressure area and a typhoon outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Storm signals in several provinces in Luzon are still raised.
The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday or Saturday.
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