Irrigation to Bulacan, Pampanga only until mid-May — NWRB

MALOLOS, Philippines — Bulacan and Pampanga farmlands are given until May 15 to get irrigation water from Angat Dam as water elevation has dropped below its critical level.

As of 6 a.m. last Sunday, water elevation in Angat was at 179.97 meters, which is below the minimum operating level of 180 meters, the National Water Resource Board (NWRB) reported.

“At this stage water supply for Metro Manila is prioritized,” Sevillo David Jr., NWRB executive director, told The STAR in a text message.

David added that the NWRB is maintaining the allocation of 48 cubic meter per second (cms) while water release for irrigation will be reduced to 10 cms next month to support requirements for the harvest season.

At the start of the planting period, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) released irrigation supply last Jan. 9 at 40 cms, based on the approved water allocation by the NWRB and reduced it to 35 cms for April.

“Based on forecast rainfall of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), it can be said that the requirement for domestic/municipal supply for May and June, or until the onset of the rainy season, is sufficient,” David said

Josephine Salazar, NIA regional director for Central Luzon, told The STAR that if ever the water allocation for irrigation for Bulacan and Pampanga farmlands is abruptly cut, the NIA can provide water pumps to the farmers.

Ma. Gloria Carillo, provincial agriculturist of Bulacan, said the reduction of the water allocation for Bulacan farms will likely affect areas in the tail-end service areas of the irrigation system of NIA, including Calumpit, Paombong, Bulacan, Balagtas, Bocaue and this city.

“Part of our contingency plan is to check on available water sources in the affected areas and conduct shallow tube wells and open surface pumps that could be used by the farmers,” Carillo said.