BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The water level in Magat Dam continued to climb, assuring farmers there would be enough for irrigation in time for the coming planting season.
“As of yesterday, the dam’s water level has reached 184.10 meters, which is more than eight meters above the normal level,†said Saturnino Tenedor, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) engineer and flood forecasting and warning section chief.
The steady climb of the dam’s water level was attributed to the continuous afternoon rain for the past three weeks, especially along the dam’s major watershed areas in Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao.
During the months of March and April, the dam’s water level was below the normal level due to lack of rain.
Magat Dam irrigates 80,000 hectares of farmlands in Isabela and parts of Quirino and Cagayan. It also generates 380 megawatts of power, making it the second biggest power provider among hydropower dams in Luzon. – Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Caindig