October 28, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Three Luzon dams have continued releasing water after officials decided to close the gates of two other reservoirs, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
PAGASA said these dams are the Ambuklao and Binga in Benguet as well as Magat in Isabela.
As of 8 a.m. yesterday, a gate of Ambuklao remained open and continued releasing water after the dam’s elevation reached 751.78 meters.
The elevation was only 22 centimeters short of reaching Ambuklao’s normal high water level of 752 meters.
Binga also had one gate remaining open as the dam’s elevation reached 574.86 meters, or 14 centimeters below its normal high water level of 575 meters.
Aside from Ambuklao and Binga, Magat Dam also continued to release water yesterday after the reservoir’s elevation reached 189.46 meters or 3.73 meters below its normal high water level of 193 meters.
All gates of Ipo and San Roque dams in Bulacan and Pangasinan, respectively, were shut down.
Ipo’s elevation reached 100.34 meters, or 76 centimeters below its normal high water level of 101.10 meters.
The elevation in San Roque reached 277.16 meters or only 2.84 meters below its normal high water level of 280 meters.
Meanwhile, heavy rains dumped by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine have increased the water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan by 44 centimeters.
From 202.11 meters previously, Angat’s water level reached 201.67 meters yesterday.
Angat’s elevation was 7.89 meters below its normal high water level of 210 meters.
Patrick Dizon, manager at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, said that Angat’s water level ensured adequate supply for next year’s dry season.
La Mesa Dam in Quezon City reached 79.56 meters, or only 59 centimeters below its spilling level of 80.15 meters.
Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija reached 207.47 meters or 13.53 meters below its normal high water level of 221 meters.
The water level in Caliraya Dam in Laguna rose to 287.49 meters yesterday.
Agriculture damage
The amount of damage caused by Kristine to the agriculture sector in Bulacan has risen to P90.83 million, according to a partial and unofficial report released yesterday.
Manuel Lukban Jr., chief of the Bulacan disaster risk reduction and management office, said the bad weather destroyed P75,300 worth of palay, P2.9 million of vegetables and P407 million of corn.
Lukban said aquaculture products worth about P102 million were lost to the storm.
As of yesterday morning, 37 barangays in Balagtas, Bocaue, Bulakan, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy and Obando were submerged due to high tide.
Phone signals restored
Telecommunications firm Globe reported that it had restored services in 98 percent of areas that experienced signal disruptions due to Kristine.
As of yesterday, Globe’s call, text and data services in 34 proinces have been restored.
Restoration efforts continue in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Pangasinan, Sorsogon and Samar. — Ramon Efren Lazaro, Rainier Allan Ronda
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