Rains raise Angat Dam water level by 5 meters

MANILA, Philippines — The water level of Angat Dam rose by more than five meters amid rains brought by Super Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat reached 188.20 meters or 5.22 meters higher compared to the previous day.

“The more than five-meter increase in the water level of the dam is a good development. It is better to reach its normal high water level of 210 to 212 meters before the end of 2023,” National Water Resources Board Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said in a text message to The STAR.

With the significant increase in Angat’s water level, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is managing the supply to its concessionaires.

“We are advising Angat Hydropower Corp. not to release more water because we want to make sure we save water coming from inflows,” MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said in a briefing yesterday.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has announced the indefinite suspension of water interruption with the improvement in the levels of Angat and Ipo Dams.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmland in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The water level of Ipo Dam, which is downstream Angat Dam, was at 101.31 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday, breaching its 101-meter spilling level.

The water level of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan increased by 6.57 meters or 253.70 meters compared to the previous 247.13 meters.

The water elevation of Magat Dam in Isabela rose by 2.15 meters or 171.47 meters compared to its previous level of 169.32 meters.

Bustos Dam spills

Meanwhile, Bustos Dam released water on its downstream river system, inundating low-lying areas.

Josephine Salazar, National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Central Luzon director, said Sluice Gates 1, 2 and 3 were raised at two meters.

The three sluice gates have been discharging 142 cubic meter per second (cms) of water since yesterday.

The rubber gate has been releasing 380 cms for a total of 522 cms compared to its previous day’s discharge of 737 cms.

NIA advised residents living near the Angat river system, particularly low-lying areas in Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong and Hagonoy to be on alert.

Ipo Dam also released water that flows down through Bustos Dam.

Floods hit Bulacan

Several towns in Bulacan were submerged in floodwater amid heavy rains.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Bulacan said water rose by as high as four feet in some areas in Angat, Calumpit, Balagtas, Guiguinto and Paombong.

Twenty-six evacuation sites were put up to accommodate 399 families or 1,672 people.

Local officials of Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos also reported flooding in their areas. — Danessa Rivera, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro