By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, July 10 (PNA) — Water level in two major dams dipped despite rains in Luzon this week but an expert sees such scenario as still manageable.
According to hydrologist Richard Orendain from State weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), records show such scenario in Pantabangan and Magat dams is “normal” for this time of the year.
He said both dams supply water not only for power generation but for irrigation as well since this time of the year is planting season already.
“Records indicate the dams’ situation can be managed accordingly to meet purposes for which these were built,” he also said.
PAGASA said the 6 a.m. water elevation in Pantabangan Dam dipped from 179.13 meters on Monday (July 6) to 178.97 meters on Tuesday (July 7), 178.65 meters on Wednesday (July 8), 178.63 meters on Thursday (July 9) and 178.47 meters on Friday (July 10).
“That dam’s water level is already much lower compared to what it was in the past 20 years although this situation is still manageable,” Orendain observed.
Magat Dam’s 6 a.m. water level was at 176.37 meters on Monday and Tuesday but dipped to 176.17 meters on Wednesday, 175.72 meters on Thursday and 175.38 meters on Friday, PAGASA said.
Orendain said records show Magat Dam usually gets filled up during the October-December period.
“Pantabangan Dam is so large it never gets filled up, however,” he noted.
Downpour from the enhanced southwest monsoon this week helped raise water elevation in other dams PAGASA is monitoring.
Data show such downpour raised Angat Dam’s water level by 1.67 meters to 171.61 meters from 169.94 meters during the 24-hour period ending 6 a.m. Friday, said Orendain.
The data also show water rose in Ipo (0.45 meters), La Mesa (0.30 meters), Binga (0.30 meters) and San Roque (0.71 meters) dams during the period, correspondingly bringing water level there to 101.39 meters, 79.98 meters, 573.73 meters and 236.93 meters.
During the period, however, Ambuklao Dam’s water level dipped 3.03 meters to 745.47 meters — lower than the 746.74 meters, 747.77 meters and 748.50 meters PAGASA reported for this facility on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, respectively.
Caliraya Dam also registered a 0.07-meter dip which caused its water level to reach 287.61 meters during the period, PAGASA data show. (PNA)