Rains fail to replenish 4 Luzon dams

MANILA, Philippines — Heavy downpours spawned by thunderstorms and the southwest monsoon in the past few days failed to improve the water level in four dams in Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan was 177.24 meters, or down by 15 centimeters from its previous level of 177.39.

The figure was 32.76 meters below the dam’s normal high water level of 210, and lower by 2.76 meters than its minimum operating level of 180.

Angat 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.

Meanwhile, the water level in Ipo Dam, also located in Bulacan, dropped by 12 centimeters, or from 100.39 to 100.27 meters.

San Roque Dam in Pangasinan logged a decrease of 26 centimeters after its water level dropped to 226.77 meters from the previous 227.03.

Magat Dam in Isabela registered a decrease of 13 centimeters, or from 180.43 meters to 180.30.

PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said no typhoon is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this week, but the monsoon would affect the western sections of Southern Tagalog and the Visayas.

Badrina said thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon and in the evening.

Palawan and Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Zambales as well as Metro Manila and the rest of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.