Magat dam’s release of water at the height of typhoon Ulysses had little to do with the massive flooding in Cagayan, Isabela and other nearby provinces, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) told the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
During the joint congressional inquiry conducted by House Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Special Committee on Northern Luzon Growth Area, lawmakers aired the belief that protocols on release of water in dams should be reviewed to prevent incidences of floods similar to what happened to Cagayan and Isabela during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who was among the authors of resolutions proposing a congressional probe into the Region II floods, underscored the importance of reviewing dam protocols and other preventive measures to mitigate the destructive power of tropical cyclones as brought about by climate change.
Velasco stressed that climate change and the release of water from Magat Dam are potential causes for massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela during the typhoon.
Appearing before a joint congressional inquiry conducted by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and Special Committee on Northern Luzon Growth Area, NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya said the decision to open the Magat dam gates is done with close coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
A protocol on dam discharge and flood warning operations that was issued in 2006 on orders of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was observed, Visaya said.
“Protocol on dam discharges is being followed by us since 2006 and up to now,” he said.
The hearing was jointly presided by Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga and Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico III, chairman of the agriculture and Northern Luzon growth area, respectively. Local officials were unable to attend the virtual hearing, prompting several solons to demand their presence in the next meeting. Environment and Natural Resources Rep. Roy Cimatu and Agriculture Secretary William Dar also sent representatives.
Cagayan Rep. Joseph Lara lamented the non-appearance of Gov. Manuel Mamba who sent his representative, lawyer Maria Rosario Mamba.
“We wanted Governo. Mamba to personally tell our constituents the real status of what happened in our province, “ said Lara.
Illegal logging, quarrying and mining have been blamed by officials for the flooding.
Visaya said Magat dam also requires immediate dredging as heavy siltation has thickened to about 33 meters.
Replying to a query from Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano admitted that accuracy of the agency’s rainfall forecast is low at 50 percent, notwithstanding the modern weather equipment it has at its disposal.
Malano denied that his agency “underperformed” for failing to accurately forecast the volume of rainfall when Ulysses pummeled Luzon.
“Worldwide po iyan (That happens worldwide),” the PAGASA executive said.
Visaya explained that Magat dam was constructed not for the purpose of flood control.
“It’s just for irrigation and partly for energy,” he told lawmakers.
Asked why NIA did not take action against illegal logging and other activities that contributed to massive flooding, Visay stressed that the agency’s authority covers only the Magat watershed with a mere 50 kilometer radius from the dam.
He said the Magat dam released water when impounded water reached the spilling level of over 193 meters.