Magat, Binga dams open spill gates

MANILA -- The Magat Dam in Isabela and the Binga Dam in Benguet have opened their spill gates Monday as their water levels have breached the the normal levels due to rains spawned by the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Oyie Pagulayan, a hydrologist at Pagasa said at 6 a.m. the water level of Magat Dam has reached 192.06 meters, which is above its normal level of 190 meters. Two gates with three meters and total discharge of 748 cubic meters per second (cms) were opened.

Pagulayan said Binga Dam in Benguet also opened two gates with one meter and has reached 574.34 meters which is near its spilling level of 575 meters.

Binga Dam's water flow downstream to the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan which can contain the water, she said.

Pagulayan said San Roque Dam's water level reached 278.52 meters as of 6 a.m., or below its normal 280-meter level.

Meanwhile, the water level at La Mesa Dam in Novaliches, Quezon City, reached 79.15 meters, still below its spilling level of 80.15 meters, while Ipo and Angat dams, both in Bulacan, reached 99.98 meters and 210.46 meters, respectively. Their normal water levels are 100.80 meters and 210 meters,respectively.

On the other hand, the water level at Pantabangan Dam reached 212.55 meters,which is below its normal level of 221 meters; Caliraya Dam in Laguna, 286.76 meters or 1.24 meters below its normal level of 288 meters; and Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, 751.53 meters which is below its normal level of 752 meters. (PNA)