Two major dams in Luzon are set to release water on Wednesday morning, July 24, due to ongoing rains affecting the watersheds, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
During the PAGASA climate forum, Hydrologist Sonia Serrano said that Ipo Dam in Bulacan and Binga Dam in Benguet will begin releasing water at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
Ipo Dam will discharge 61 cubic meters per second (cms), while Binga Dam will release 27 cms, Serrano said.
As of 8 a.m., the water level at Ipo Dam has slightly increased from 100.93 meters to 101.5 meters. The dam in Bulacan is currently 0.57 meters above its normal-high water level of 101.1 meters during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, Binga Dam’s water level has significantly increased from 568.26 meters to 571.75 meters, or 3.25 meters below its normal-high water level of 575 meters.
Serrano said the water release remains minimal and may not significantly affect low-lying areas, but she still cautioned about potential flooding in some areas.
Downstream of Ipo Dam, she advised residents in low-lying areas and near the riverbanks of the Angat River in Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong, and Hagonoy in Bulacan to remain vigilant, as the river’s level may rise.
Meanwhile, she said that water discharge from Binga Dam may impact Barangay Ambuklao in Bokod, Benguet, and Barangays Dalupirip and Tinongdan in Itogon, Benguet.
Some of the water discharged from the Binga Dam will be captured by the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, which is part of a series of cascading dams that include the upstream Ambuklao and Binga Dams.