By Freddie Velez
NORZAGARAY, Bulacan — Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado has called for a massive dredging of the Angat Dam and the conversion of the Bayabas River into a dam to solve the perennial problems brought by El Nino.
Angat Dam in Bulacan (Freddie Velez/ MANILA BULLETIN)
"If the water level of Angat Dam continues to drop, it might reach to its critical level, kasi mabilis na bumaba ang level ng tubig sa dam dahil heavily silted na, at madami nang nawala na mga century old trees at mayroong mga nabulok na troso sa ilalim ng reservoir," said Alvarado.
Alvarado learned Friday that the water level of Angat Dam has gone down to 199.06 meters from 199.92 meters overnight. The critical level of the dam is at 180 meters.
Citing a report from PAGASA, Alvarado said that Bulacan is among 21 provinces in Luzon that may experience dry spell by the end of March up to the whole month of April.
"Dapat lahat ng Bulakenyo hindi lamang ang mga magsasaka ang maging handa dito. Dalawang buwan ang tagtuyot,kaya kailangan matuto tayong magtipid sa paggamit ng tubig, dahil ayon sa PAGASA kasama tayo sa listahang makakaranas tulad ng Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac at Aurora.," the Bulacan governor said.
The Bayabas River could help augment the water needs of the Bulacan dams.
"No water shortage if the Bayabas river will be converted into a dam," said Alvarado.
Alvarado cited the water source coming from the Angatr-Umiray catch basin which goes directly to the reservoir of Angat Dam. She proposed that the Umiray water be only released during the dry spell.
The water from Bayabas River, on the other hand, goes to the reservoir of Bustos Dam which usually releases it to the Angat River.
He said technology and sound engineering solutions can be used to capture nature’s abundant supply of fresh water during the rainy seasons.