Angat water level receding despite rainfall

SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan, Philippines —  The water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan has continued to recede despite heavy rainfall in the past several days.

Data from the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office showed that the reservoir’s elevation was at 172.07 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday.

The elevation was down by 35 centimeters from the previous day’s 172.42 meters.

The figure was 7.93 meters below Angat’s minimum operating level of 180 meters, and lower by 39.93 meters than the dam’s normal high water level of 212 meters.

The dam is the primary source of potable water for Metro Manila households. It  provides additional hydro power to the Luzon grid as well as irrigation supply to rice farms in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga. 

Amid the receding water elevation in Angat and other dams in Central Luzon as well as the threat of El Niño, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Central Luzon has prepared mitigation plans for rice farms in the region.

Christian Manalo, NIA-Central Luzon director, said among these plans are rotational water delivery and adjustment of the cropping calendar and planting pattern based on the weather pattern.

Manalo said farmers have been encouraged to plant rice varieties that mature early and to look for alternative sources of irrigation water like shallow tube wells.

The NIA said it is coordinating with local government units and concerned agencies  to address the problem.