Monsoon rains continue to fill Angat Dam

MALOLOS, Philippines — Heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon or habagat has raised the water level in Angat Dam by more than one meter.

Records from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that the water level in the dam as of yesterday morning was at 205.20 meters. The previous day’s water level was 204.05 meters.

The water elevation in the dam is still 6.8 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters.

Supply of potable water for Metro Manila residents and irrigation allocation for rice fields in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga are assured if the water level in the dam will reach its normal high by the end of the year.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had earlier said Angat Dam’s water level is expected to reach its maximum elevation of 213 to 214 meters as more typhoons are expected to enter the country before the end of the year.

PAGASA said six to eight more typhoons would enter the country until December.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is seeking to extend the approved irrigation allocation for the cropping season this year.

Josephine Salazar, NIA-Central Luzon director, said this would ensure that palay that were replanted after being destroyed by recent typhoons and monsoon rains can be harvested by early December.

Damage to agriculture due to recent typhoons and habagat has ballooned to more than P1 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Rice fields in Central Luzon were among those affected.