Luzon dams release water, Pagasa warns of flooding

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Alexander Pama warned against possible flooding in parts of Central Luzon and Northern Luzon as several dams in Luzon have started releasing water. 

“We are also putting emphasis on the dams because these dams when they overflow, the water will go to the river basins in the communities. We have warned the residents,” Pama said in a briefing Friday evening, September 19. 

Gates in at least 3  dams in Luzon are open as of 6am on Saturday, September 20.

• Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, has one gate open at 87 cms. It opened two gates on Friday.
• Ambuklao Dam in Benguet opened 4 gates or a total of 3.5 meters
• Binga Dam in Benguet opened 6 gates or a total of 5.5 meters

The government said on Friday that it is already focused on the dams in Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, areas that were expected to experience heavy rains as tropical storm Mario moved northward. Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said concerned local government units have been warned and briefed on the situation. 

Ipo Dam is in Bulacan, a province in Central Luzon which was placed under Red Rainfall Warning. It is also significant to Metro Manila, said  PAGASA, because its releases may also affect Fairview in Quezon City and Malabon City.

PAGASA was also concerned about the likely release of Magat Dam in Isabela, which is also in the path of tropical storm Mario. It has not released water as of the 6am report but it is near its spilling level.

PAGASA said it was not so worried about the releases of Binga Dam because the water will be stored in the nearby San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, which is at a comfortable  level.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City overflowed on Friday but has stopped as of Saturday 6am status report. PAGASA on Friday night lowered the rainfall warning signal from red to orange in Metro Manila. Force evacuation was earlier enforced along communities in Tullahan River, where the dam water spilled into.

A red warning means serious flooding expected in low-lying areas and evacuation is necessary. Orange warning means the flooding is threatening, and residents are alerted for possible evacuation. – Rappler.com