Monsoon rain fails to raise Angat Dam water level

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — Heavy rain spawned by the southwest monsoon on Tuesday caused flooding in some areas in Metro Manila, but it was not sufficient to improve the water level in Angat Dam.

Records from the Bulacan disaster risk reduction and management office showed that as of 2 p.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat dropped to 156.98 meters from 157.52 the previous day.

The elevation was 3.02 meters below Angat’s critical level of 160 meters, and 23.02 below the minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Earlier, the National Water Resources Board decreased the water allocation for Metro Manila from 48 cubic meters to 50 cu.m, to minimize the drop in Angat’s elevation.

Currently, irrigation supply from Angat, which is coursed through Bustos Dam, for palay farms in Bulacan and some parts of Pampanga has been halted.

Meanwhile, environmentalists blamed the slow implementation of Republic Act 6716 or the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Law for the declining water sources.

David D’Angelo, chairman of the Green Party of the Philippines, said the law mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways to construct wells, springs and rainwater collectors in every barangay nationwide to prevent flooding and secure water supply.

D’Angelo said concerned agencies failed to implement the law as there has been no proper compliance mechanism to ensure this.