The light to moderate rains spawned by the northeast monsoon on Thursday, Jan. 5, and enhanced by the Low Pressure Areas (LPAs) have raised the water levels of the three big dams in the province of Bulacan to spilling levels.
The Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) urged residents living along the river banks to take precautionary measures as the water level in the Angat Dam reservoir continues to rise.
The PDRRMO said that at 8 a.m. on January 5, the water level of Angat Dam was 213.21 meters and it rose to 215.03 meters at 5 p.m. which is above its normal high water level of 212 meters.
The PDRRMO also reported that the water level in Ipo dam has reached 101.18 meters (spilling level is 101 meters) while the water level in Bustos dam reached 17.40 meters (spilling meters 17 meters).
To maintain the stability of the Angat Dam and draw down the reservoir elevation to safe levels, the dam's operators will open its spillway gate to discharge gradually the excess water brought about by continuous rains in northern and Central Luzon.
To stop the water elevation in Ipo and Bustos Dams, the sluice gates were opened to gradually release waters which will flow to the coastal municipalities of Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong.
The PDRRMO said on Thursday that Governor Daniel R. Fernando announced the suspension of classes for the Elementary and High school levels, both public and private.
Fernando urged the communities living near the dams to be vigilant.