Napocor faces class suit for dam spill

CALUMPIT town in Bulacan province gets flooded each time a strong storm passes by Central Luzon. This month, flooding was exacerbated by the release of water from Angat Dam. CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

CITY OF MALOLOS—The National Power Corp. (Napacor) shut down the floodgates of Angat Dam on Wednesday afternoon, ending the week-long release of reservoir water which had become the subject of a potential lawsuit.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado on Tuesday announced he would file a class suit against Napocor and other agencies responsible for the water discharges from Angat Dam that worsened floods in the seven towns, including Calumpit and Hagonoy.

In a news conference, Alvarado said the provincial government would also sue the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the floods in at least 60 villages.

He said the agencies refused to heed his appeal to delay the opening of floodgates until floods caused by waters draining out of Nueva Ecija and Pampanga provinces had subsided.

Alvarado said the continuous release of waters from the dam had affected 250,000 Bulacan residents.

Gladys Sta. Rita, Napocor president, on Wednesday said the interagency body, which oversees Angat Dam during calamities, was ready to defend its decision to spill reservoir water from Saturday until 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

“We believe we did the right thing and followed all existing procedures and protocol. The release of water is called for as a matter of necessity to arrest [a potentially] bigger risk that may endanger the whole province and Metro Manila,” she said in a text message.

Alvarado said Angat Dam’s water releases caused floodwater in Calumpit and Hagonoy to rise to 10 feet in some areas, and widespread flooding in the towns of Norzagaray, Pulilan, Bustos and Paombong.

“People should have cleaned up had the floods subsided on Dec. 20. But that did not take place because these agencies ignored our appeals to delay the dam releases,” he said.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Angat Dam’s water elevation was at 214.95 meters above sea level (masl), which was higher than the spilling level of 212 masl.

“What is ironic here is that these agencies should be bracing for the effects of the El Niño. [Government should have saved] the water [instead of] releasing it down to the province, creating havoc in Calumpit and Hagonoy,” Alvarado said.

In Hagonoy, Catholic priests have been holding the traditional “Simbang Gabi” (dawn Masses) in makeshift chapels and on streets because of the floods.

Since Dec. 21, Msgr. Luciano Balagtas, parish priest of the

National Shrine of Sta. Ana, which was buried in 2 feet of water, has been holding Mass on the street in Sta. Monica village.

Instead of the usual 8 p.m. service, Mass has been held at 4:30 p.m. because most communities have no power supply. About 70 villagers attend the services, with nothing to sit on, Balagtas said.

In the Sta. Ana parish in Poblacion village, Masses are held in a makeshift chapel put up at the Saint Joachim Hall, an open area with limited seats.

On Tuesday, church officials in Sta. Ana Church began cleaning the parish when water began to subside. They hope to resume services there by Christmas Day. Carmela Reyes-Estrope and Ron Lopez, Inquirer Central Luzon