4 dams in Luzon open spill gates

MANILA -- Four dams in Luzon opened their spill gates on Saturday to let out excess waters ahead of Tropical Storm “Lawin” which is expected to bring moderate to intense rains this weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Oyie Pagulayan, Pagasa hydrologist, said Angat and Ipo dams in Bulacan, Binga dam in Benguet, and Magat dam in Isabela continue to spill water as their respective reservoirs have breached the normal levels.

Pagulayan said that as of 10 a.m. Saturday, the water level at Ipo dam reached 100.64 meters, above the normal high level of 100.20 meters, while Angat's water level was at 211.78 meters, surpassing its normal high level of 210.00 meters.

Ipo dam opened one gate by 0.7 meter while Angat dam opened one gate by one meter, she said.

Authorities said water from Ipo dam is likely to affect low-lying areas along the Angat River. Residents living in those areas have been advised to be alert for possible increase in water level downstream and to take precautionary measures.

Pagulayan also said that one gate of Binga dam remains open by 0.3 meter as its 574.51-metr water level is close to breaching the spilling level of 575.00 meters.

Binga's water flows downstream to the San Roque dam in Pangasinan, which can contain the water spillage.

San Roque dam's water level stood at 273.14 meters as of 6 a.m. Saturday, or way below its normal 280.00-meter level.

Pagulayan said that two gates of Magat dam in Isabela remained open by three meters as its water level rose to 191.35 meters, or beyond its normal level of 190.00 meters.

The La Mesa dam in Novaliches, Quezon City, meanwhile, was downgraded to green alert or in operational level from red alert status, as its water level has returned to normal following improved weather condition in Metro Manila.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, La Mesa dam's water level stood at 78.94 meters, or below the spilling level of 80.15 meters, Pagulayan said.

Water levels of Pantabangan dam in Nueva Ecija, Caliraya dam in Laguna and Ambuklao dam in Benguet are either below or at normal levels, she added. (PNA)