Four major dams in Luzon have opened their spillway gates to release excess water resulting from Typhoon Pepito’s rains, according to a report from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, Nov. 18.
Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet, San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, and Magat Dam in Isabela are among those discharging excess water.
As of 8 a.m. on Monday, Ambuklao Dam’s water level was 750.79 meters, 1.21 meters below its normal high water level of 752 meters.
Meanwhile, Binga Dam’s water level was 573.43 meters, just 1.57 meters below its normal high water level of 575 meters.
Ambuklao Dam has opened eight spillway gates, releasing 759 cubic meters per second (cms) of water—an increase from the 327.53 cms discharged through four gates the day before.
Binga Dam has opened six gates, discharging 1,084.63 cms, up from the 260.66 cms released through four gates, previously.
The excess water from Ambuklao and Binga dams is mostly directed downstream to San Roque Dam. These dams form a series of cascading dams.
As of 8 a.m. on Monday, San Roque’s water level was 278.45 meters, or 1.55 meters below its 280-meter normal high water level.
The dam has opened one spillway gate, releasing 402.52 cms, from two gates releasing 348.42 cms the day before.
Meanwhile, Magat Dam’s water level was recorded at 190.43 meters, 2.57 meters below its normal high water level of 193 meters.
The dam has opened three gates, discharging 1,101.89 cms, up from two gates releasing 742.83 cms, previously.
PAGASA has issued flood watch bulletins for the Ambuklao-Binga-San Roque and Magat sub-basins due to the ongoing water releases from these dams.
Areas that may be affected by the release of water from Ambuklao, Binga, and San Roque dams include Barangay Ambuclao in Bokod, Benguet, as well as Barangays Dalupirip and Tinongdan in Itogon, Benguet.
Several municipalities in Pangasinan could also be affected, including San Manuel, San Nicolas, Asingan, Tayug, Santa Maria, Villasis, Rosales, Santo Tomas, Alcala, Bayambang, and Bautista.
Meanwhile, Magat Dam’s release of water may affect the municipalities of Alfonso Lista in Ifugao and Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian, and Gamu in Isabela.
PAGASA has advised residents in downstream communities near these dams to take necessary precautions.