Norway funds improvement of Magat Dam forecasting capability

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Norway have entered into an agreement to improve the flood forecasting and warning system (FFWS) for Magat Dam, aimed at reducing loss of lives and damages to properties due to floods in downstream communities.

Under the agreement, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) will contribute P71.2 million ($1.52 million) to cover the improvement of existing FFWS facilities and expansion of the monitoring facilities of the Cagayan River basin.

The Philippine government will contribute a total of P9.3 million ($199,444) for the public information drive, labor and civil works. Of the total local counterpart, P3.4 million ($72,680) will come from SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP)-Magat Inc. while the rest will be provided by Pagasa and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). Total project cost is about P80.6 million ($1.7 million).

“It was very important for us to convey to the Norwegian government the merits of the project especially in terms of mitigating loss of lives and livelihood in the downstream communities,” said SN Power Philippines country director Kim Laude.

Meanwhile, SNAP-Magat Inc. chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio emphasized the significance of the agreement in the aftermath of typhoons that devastated Northern Luzon in October.

“When we assumed operation of the power plant, we saw the need for rehabilitating the FFWS system and equipment to better contribute to Pagasa and NIA’s disaster mitigation capabilities in times of flooding,” Rubio said.

He said SNAP-Magat Inc. made representations with the Norwegian government for possible funding of the Magat FFWS rehabilitation to support the government and communities in disaster response, management and mitigation.

Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo stressed that with this development, “our flood forecasting and warning system will not only benefit the downstream area of Magat Dam but also the whole Cagayan River basin with the expansion of monitoring facilities along major tributaries.”

Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the project is part of the ongoing upgrading program of Pagasa’s monitoring facilities that started a couple of years ago.

The Magat Dam is a multi-purpose dam which serves as a source of hydroelectric power and irrigation water for about 85,000 hectares of agricultural lands.

The dam is under operational control of the NIA, while SNAP-Magat Inc. owns and operates the 360-megawatt Magat hydroelectric power plant. SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) is jointly owned by SN Power of Norway and the Aboitiz Group.