Flood alert up as dam releases water

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Authorities issued flood alerts in Isabela as Magat Dam released water amid continuous rains brought by Typhoon Karen.

The National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) said the water level in the dam was at 190.3 meters as of 9 a.m. yesterday. The dam’s spilling level is 193 meters.

Wilfredo Gloria, NIA-MARIIS operations manager, said six of the dam’s spillway gates were opened yesterday. 

“The dam’s water level  has been critical since Sunday due to the continued inflow of water from watershed areas in Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao,” Gloria said.

The towns of Cabagan, Tumauini, Jones, San Agustin, Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon, Dinapugui, Echague, Alicia, Ramon, Gamu, Angadanan, Santo Tomas, Maconacon, Dinapigue, Divilacan and Palanan as well as the cities of Ilagan, Cauayan and Santiago are being monitored for possible flooding.

In Cagayan, floods are threatening the towns of Tuguegarao City and the towns of  Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Amulung, Alcala, Gattaran, Lasam, Lallo, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Gonzaga, Santa Ana and Santa Teresita.

Bulacan dams

Meanwhile, continuous rains raised the water level in Angat Dam, but authorities ruled out the release of water.

The water level in Angat Dam, which supplies Metro Manila residents with 97 percent of its water requirements, was less than 11 meters below its high level of 210 meters yesterday morning.

Water was released from Ipo and Bustos dams on Sunday as it reached spilling levels. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro