By Leonardo V. Micua
DAGUPAN CITY, Aug. 23 )PNA)–The water level of the downstream portion of the Agno river in Pangasinan has further risen as the National Power Corporation (NPC) increased its discharge of impounded water of the San Roque Multi-purpose Dam Project (SRMDP) to three meters from one opened gate as of 6:00 a.m. today.
The increased water discharge from San Roque was reported by the Philippine Atmospheric Geo-sciences and Atmospheric Services Authority (Pagasa) in its website consolidated from reports of various agencies monitoring the conditions of dams as a result of increased rains spawned by Typhoon “Ineng”, which to date is already outside Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The volume is two meters higher than the two-gate half meter each opening when NPC started its water discharge at 12:00 noon of August 22, which was made at one-gate opening at two meters at 4:00 p.m. that day.
Water elevation of the San Roque dam, the largest rock-fill dam in southeast Asia and only the second in Asia, at 6:00a.m. today was 283.51 meters above sea level (masl), or 3.51 meters above its critical level of 280 masl, thus the need for the water increased water discharge downstream of the Agno river.
San Roque is where all the water discharged by the higher Ambuklao dam in Bokod, Benguet and the Binga dam in Itogon, also in Benguet, whose gates at this time were opened already at nine meters and 11.5 meters, respectively.
PAGASA said Ambuklao at 6:00 a.m. today was 749.47 masl just below its critical level of of 752 masl, whereas Binga was 573.03 masl, a little below its critical level of 575 masl.
The effect of the released water from the San Roque dam is not almost felt yet in towns located downstream of the Agno river as there is no more rains although dark clouds still appear in the horizon.
In Dagupan City, officials are watching closely the Pantal River in Barangay Lasip Chico in anticipation that part of the released water from San Roque may caacade the Sinocalan river that flows straight to Dagupan.
NPC however kept on reiterating that Dagupan is too far away from the Agno river and will not be affected by discharge water from San Roque.(PNA)