Excess water released from Magat Dam

ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines  – Authorities continue to release excess water from the Magat Dam along the Isabela-Ifugao boundary to avoid reaching its spilling level, which may cause possible destruction to the four-decade-old power and irrigation facility.

Engineer Saturnino Tenedor of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said rainwater has been released from the dam’s reservoir since the other day, as rainfall, especially on the dam’s watershed areas, continues.      As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the dam’s water level was at 192 meters, which was within the critical level or three meters below the spilling level of 195 meters. However, authorities started to release water when the dam’s elevation reached the 190-meter mark.

Meanwhile, Mariano Dancel, manager of NIA’s Magat River Integrated Irrigation System, allayed fears of flooding in the dam’s downstream areas despite the continued release of water from the reservoir.

Dam authorities said they have been gradually releasing excess water at controlled volumes to prevent flooding downstream.