Angat, 2 other dams release water; more rains expected

MALOLOS, Philippines — The spill gates of three dams in Bulacan were opened yesterday amid rains spawned by a low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said the water level in Angat Dam was monitored at 213.05 meters yesterday, slightly lower than Friday’s elevation of 213.09 meters.

Water was also released from Ipo Dam after its elevation reached 100.74 meters, less than a meter than its spilling level of 101 meters.

The water level in Bustos Dam, on the other hand, was .20 meters higher than its critical level of 15 meters.

The PDRRMO said Gates 1 and 2 of Angat Dam were opened by 0.5 meters and released 75 cubic meter per second (cms) of water.

The discharged water flowed to Ipo Dam, which in turn released 85.20 cms of water.

Sluice Gate 3 of Bustos Dam, which received Ipo Dam’s excess water, was opened and discharged 10 cms of water on its downstream river system.

Bustos Dam cannot store excess water released from Angat Dam because its Rubber Gate No. 5 is being rehabilitated.

Josephine Salazar, National Irrigation Administration-Central Luzon director, said rehabilitation works are supposed to be completed before the end of the year.

The release of water from Angat Dam came even as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System requested the National Water Resources Board to allow the water level in the reservoir to reach 214 meters to provide an extra buffer for its operations.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said more rains are expected as the LPA moves closer to the Philippine landmass.

The weather system was monitored 925 kilometers east of southeastern Mindanao as of 3 p.m. yesterday.

PAGASA said the LPA may develop into tropical cyclone Kabayan.

It said the northeast monsoon is affecting Northern Luzon, but no significant impact is expected.