Magat, Bustos dams open gates due to Paeng

MANILA, Philippines — Both Magat and Bustos dams opened their gates yesterday in a preemptive release of water as Severe Tropical Storm Paeng continued to dump rainwater in the country.

Magat dam, located between Cagayan and Isabela provinces, opened one spillway gate by one meter yesterday morning to ensure the 190-meter spilling level is not exceeded. As of yesterday morning, the water level in the dam was measured at 186.99 meters.

Authorities said the dam was releasing 438.33 cubic meters of water per second.

The Office of Civil Defense in Region 2 said some rivers in Isabela and Cagayan provinces were already overflowing, forcing local officials to conduct pre-emptive evacuation for some of their constituents.

In some areas, Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Ting Que said they had to do forced evacuation as the water level continued to rise due to heavy rains and the release of water from Magat dam.

Que said they have alerted residents in low-lying areas, especially those in Barangays Balzain East and West, Caritan, Linao, Cataggaman, San Gabriel, Leonarda and Carig.

In Bulacan, Bustos dam also conducted a preemptive release of water as the typhoon strengthened, continuing to dump heavy rains on the dam’s upstream river system.

Rodert dela Cruz, National Irrigation Administration provincial manager, said sluice gates 1 and 2 were raised by 2.5 meters and released a combined volume of 104 cubic meters per second

This release will slice through the Angat river system and may affect the towns of Baliwag, Pulilan, Calumpit and Hagonoy before draining out to Manila Bay.