By Freddie Velez
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by its chairman Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado on Saturday is closely monitoring the release of water from the three big dams—Angat, Bustos and Ipo—as well as the water elevation at the Candaba swamp at the Pampanga river.
Angat Dam in Bulacan (Freddie Velez/ MANILA BULLETIN)
As of 8 a.m. Saturday the water elevation of Angat dam was 207.51 meters, then rose to 207.78 meters at 9 am. still way below to its spilling level of 210 meters. The water level of Ipo dam at 8a.m. was 101.71 and decreased top 101.68 at 9 a.m., a little bit higher than its spilling level of 101. meters and discharged 60 cm of water per second from radial gate 1 at 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, the Bustos dam's water level at 8 a.m. was 16.53 then rose to 17 meters at 9 a.m. (spilling level 17.50 meters). Bustos dam released 164 cm of water per second from its 3 sluice gates at 9 a.m. yesterday.
Alvarado also said, they already dispatched rescue teams to the flood-stricken areas to ensure the safety of the people.
He said disaster control officials are now keeping a tight watch on the coastal towns of Hagonoy and Calumpit—the perennial catch basins—of backfloods coming from Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and parts of Bulacan.
The water elevation of the Pampanga river basin is now critical due to Typhoon Ompong and the effects of southwest monsoon over the area. Sapang Buho from alert level of 37, it reached to a critical level of 6.5 meters; Peñaranda 4.0 critical; Candaba 5.0 critical; Arayat 8.5 critical; Sulipan 5.0 critical; San Isidro 6.0 critical; and Zaragosa 14.5 critical.
"Let us always pray not only for our safety but for the entire country, because only the mercy and love of God can prevent. I am hoping that the flood waters from Tarlac and Nueva Ecija won't flow in the coastal towns of Calumpit and Hagonoy," Alvarado said.
Alarmed for flashflood in the towns of Sta.Mmaria and San Miguel, rescue teams Alpha PNP, Reservists, Charlie, Bravo and Delta were deployed by DRRM head Liz Mungcal as standby rescue teams.
Affected families as of Saturday morning are 612 equivalent to 1,972 individuals from towns of Bulakan, Obando, Plaridel, Balagtas and in the City of Malolos. Out of 600 prepared evacuations center province wide, the affected families temporarily sheltered at the 14 evacuation centers.
Alvarado said thousands of relief bags are already prepared and ready for distribution to the affected families, including the flood victims in Marilao town.