‘Enough water for Metro Manila as Angat rehab starts’

MANILA, Philippines — The water supply in Metro Manila and nearby provinces will not be affected by the 61-day rehabilitation of the Angat hydroelectric power plant starting on Nov. 6, an official of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said yesterday.

In a radio interview, MWSS division manager Patrick Dizon said the water concessionaires would continue to source their water from Angat despite the shutdown of the plant.

“There is no reason to worry as the 61 days total plant shutdown was carefully studied by the Angat technical working group, wherein members are (from) various government agencies, including the National Water Resources Board, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and MWSS,” he said.

Dizon noted that the modernization of the Angat hydroelectric power plant started in 2018.

“The strengthening work of Angat was done prior to the pandemic. Angat Dam was widened and strengthened in preparation for a possible strong quake,” Dizon added.

He noted that the Angat hydroelectric power plant was constructed in 1967 and it would be the first time that the dam would be modernized.

According to Dizon, Angat Hydro Corp., which operates the dam, will look into the integrity of the structure.

“We at the MWSS support its rehabilitation as the dam is 56 years old,” he added.

Dizon said that the water level of Angat Dam was at more than 209 meters or close to its normal high operating level of 210 to 212 meters.

He said they aimed to reach the high level “so that we are safe even with the El Niño next year.”

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 farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The 61-day rehabilitation of Angat will end on Jan. 6, 2024.