Angat Dam releases water starting Tuesday

AUTHORITIES will again release water from the overflowing Angat Dam in Bulacan starting today (Tuesday) in anticipation of more monsoon rains.

The National Power Corp. (Napocor), however, assured the release would not cause massive flooding in Bulacan as experienced during the Christmas week when rains from Typhoon “Nona” and northeast monsoon brought dams in Luzon to spilling levels.

As of Monday, Angat Dam was at 215.15 meters above sea level, more than three meters above the 212-meter normal high water elevation.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the dam level went up again due to rains over the weekend from a combination of northeast monsoon and easterly winds.

“We expect that once we get that surge in the northeast monsoon on Thursday, the level will go up again,” Pagasa hydrologist Danny Flores said.

Starting at 8 a.m. , the dam’s Gate 2 will be opened by a half meter to release a “minimal” 70 cubic meters per second of water, the Napocor said.

“The water release will hardly be felt along Angat River and will not cause flooding in nearby areas… Please be on the alert and take necessary precautions,” Napocor said. Dona Z. Pazzibugan