Angat Dam water level dips

MANILA, Philippines — The water level in Angat Dam has dipped, according to the hydrometeorology division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level in the reservoir was at 213.94 meters, or 0.14 meters lower compared to the previous day.

The water elevation in the dam is still above its normal high of 212 meters.

On the other hand, the water level in Ipo Dam was down by .33 meters compared to the previous day‘s 100.65 meters.

Ipo Dam’s normal high operating level is at 101 meters.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System division manager Patrick Dizon had assured the public that the water crisis experienced when El Niño hit the country in 2019 would not be repeated.

“During the time, the water level was low at 210 meters,“ Dizon said. “Now, we were able to save enough water because of the rains and we were able to implement augmentation measures. We will have sources of water.”

Bustos Dam rehab

On the rehabilitation of Bustos Dam, Josephine Salazar, National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Central Luzon director, said the supplier would check the installation of the replacement of the damaged rubber gate.

Salazar said the replacement rubber gate, which arrived in the country in October, would be inflated once its Chinese supplier Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co. Ltd. gives its approval.

She said the Chinese experts would also inspect the dam’s five other gates.

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando had earlier warned local contractor ITP Construction Inc. and the Chinese rubber gate supplier that they can face civil and criminal cases for ignoring follow-ups and demand letters sent by the provincial government and NIA.

Fernando said all of Bustos Dam’s rubber gates should be replaced.

He said the NIA should also take responsibility for the delay in the repair of the damaged rubber gate, noting that it could affect irrigation supply to rice fields in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga.

Bustos Dam distributes irrigation water from Angat Dam through its north, south and Angat-Bustos-Pandi irrigation zone canals.