By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Angat Dam in Bulacan has risen significantly amid rains brought by the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” moving past the 160-meter critical level, based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, Aug. 10.
As of 8 a.m. Monday, the dam’s water level reached 170.47 meters, up 8.66 meters from its 161.81-meter level the previous day.
The latest increase marked a significant recovery for Angat Dam, whose water level fell to 150.6 meters on July 25, its lowest recorded level.
However, Angat Dam still needs 39.53 meters to reach its 210-meter normal high water level.
Meanwhile, Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet continued releasing water, although their outflows have been reduced.
Ambuklao Dam’s water level reached 751.71 meters, just 0.29 meter below its 752-meter normal high water level.
Seven of its eight gates were open as of Monday.
Its water outflow was reduced to 467.43 cubic meters per second from 1,806 cubic meters per second.
Binga Dam’s water level reached 574.44 meters, its normal high water level.
Six gates remained open, but its water outflow was reduced to 522.56 cubic meters per second from 1,896 cubic meters per second.
Ambuklao and Binga are part of a cascading dam system, with San Roque Dam in Pangasinan receiving most of the water released from the two reservoirs.
San Roque Dam’s water level increased by 15.05 meters to 254.77 meters, but it remains 25.23 meters below its 280-meter normal high water level.
Other dams also recorded increases due to incessant rains.
Ipo Dam in Bulacan continued releasing water as its reservoir level reached 100.59 meters, just 0.51 meter below its 101.1-meter normal high water level.
La Mesa Dam in Quezon City rose to 79.92 meters from 79.72 meters. It remains close to its 80.15-meter spilling level.
Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija increased to 182.22 meters from 181.46 meters, while Magat Dam in Isabela rose to 174.34 meters from 170.73 meters.
Despite the increases, both Pantabangan and Magat dams remain below their normal high water levels for the rainy season.
