DAVAO CITY – Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza has reminded the National Power Corp. to exercise safety measures before releasing water from their dams in Bukidnon.
MENDOZA
In a letter addressed to Larry Sabellina, vice president of the Napocor Mindanao Generation Office based in Iligan City, Mendoza emphasized that the people of Cotabato and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) deserve to be informed before any release of dam water to protect lives, properties, and livelihood.
She chided the Napocor for not coordinating with local government units prior to releasing dam water from the Pulangi IV Hydroelectric Power Plant in Maramag, Bukidnon last July 12.
The release of water from the dam contributed to the swelling of the Pulangi River that triggered severe flooding in low-lying areas.
“The Napocor’s lack of warning for the release of dam water had caused the Rio Grande de Mindanao to overflow, which triggered floods even when there is no heavy rain in Cotabato province and its nearby municipalities under BARMM such as Pagalungan, Montawal, Datu Piang, and its newly created municipalities which are formerly 63 barangays of Cotabato province,” wrote Mendoza, who also chairs the Regional Development Council in Central Mindanao.
On July 19, Napocor said that it had indeed discharged 9.38 million cubic meters of water from its dam on July 12. The amount of discharged water is enough to fill 3,752 Olympic-size swimming pools.
As a result, widespread flooding displaced 13,500 families in Cotabato alone.
In the neighboring province of Maguindanao, at least 76,000 families were affected in the severe flooding that lasted for at least three days.
Mendoza's reminder came as heavy rains still persist in the region amid the approaching low-pressure area (LPA) in Mindanao.
“Napocor is expected to exercise safety measures before releasing dam water such as prior coordination with concerned government agencies and neighboring local government units," Mendoza said.
The coordination will ensure the safety of communities downstream as well as prepare and if extremely necessary, to be evacuated to the nearest evacuation center before the release of dam water, the governor added.
Mendoza and representatives from the Napocor are set to meet next week at the provincial capitol in Kidapawan City to sort out issues as well as establish protocols to avoid similar incidents.