Due to zero rainfall: Water in Bohol dams drops to critical level

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Water levels in dams started receding again after over a month of almost zero rainfall, except for the recent indication of possible rainfall in the coming weeks.

National Irrigation Administration-7 regional manager Diosdado Rosales however explained that the low water level of dams will have no impact on ricefields until end of May, since it is still harvest time.

Rosales said water level, especially in Malinao Dam in Pilar town, have already reached to a critical level, although this was still enough to meet the water requirement of service areas, which is lower at this time.

The Malinao Dam is a run-off the river type or just a diversion type, has a capacity to sustain up to 16 days without rain, said the NIA-7 official.

On the other hand, the Bayongan Dam in San Miguel town is a reservoir type and has stored enough water now on standby for the cropping season.

It is the Malinao Dam that is most likely to be affected if the climate would develop into a full-blown dry spell, which might cause reduction of the water level in Wahig-Pamacsalan River.

Rosales also explained that while the feasibility study on Malinao Dam projected a rate of 9 cubic meters per second, the actual flow rate now is only 900 liters. He however assured the public this problem would be addressed as soon as the budget is already set for the dam upgrading.

It was over three years ago yet when the feasibility study was done on the proposal to raise the height of Malinao Dam to enable it to support the ricefields in its service area for at least one cropping, and even until the next rainy season.

At present, Bayongan and Malinao Dams can support two croppings in one year. Supposedly Malinao dam had been designed to serve 4,000 hectares in the entire rainy season from the planting schedule in November to March. During dry season from March to September, the dam is expected to irrigate 3,000 hectares only.

Meanwhile, farmers in the 2nd District of Bohol expected an additional income of up to P18,000 this summer out of a third rice crop, accoring to congressional aspirant, Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado, who distributed urea fertilizers last week to farmers of irrigators associations organized by the NIA in Ubay, San Miguel, Talibon and Dagohoy towns.

Aris is carrying on the rice ratooning program initiated by his father, the late Rep. Erico Aumentado, and NIA-7 in coordination with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the private sector. (FREEMAN)