Magat dam water level stable

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Magat irrigation and hydroelectric facility along the Isabela-Ifugao border remains in stable condition as far as its water elevation is concerned. 

Magat dam engineer Saturnino Tenedor said that unless there would be non-stop rains in the coming days, the present water level at the dam would remain under control with no reason to release excess water that could cause flood in the region’s low-lying northern areas. 

As of 12 noon yesterday, amid the rains, the dam’s water elevation was still within the normal level at 188.65 meters, which is beyond the 193 meters, wherein dam officials would be forced to release water to prevent the dam facilities from possible damage.  

“The (dam’s) water elevation is still below the spill level of 193,” said Tenedor, amid fears of heavy flooding along the region’s northern low-lying areas if the dam would release excess waters. 

Among the areas feared to experience flooding from the release of dam waters were the towns of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Roxas, Mallig, Santa Maria, San Manuel and Caba­tuan and Santiago City as well as some parts of northern Isabela and Cagayan.

Likewise, Magat dam owner SN Aboitiz Power said that its two dams in Benguet – the Binga and Ambuklao dams, noted significant increase in water level but stressed that they are still within the normal elevation.

Besides the Magat dam’s excess water, authorities also fear that volumes of water could also cascade down to the Isabela and Cagayan plains from the northern Sierra Madre mountains and other watersheds believed to have accumulated rain waters from typhoon Juan.

This, as Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, alerted his men for possible flooding brought about by accumulated water in the mountain areas.