Amid the scorching heat being experienced across the country, the water level of Angat Dam further declined and remained below its minimum operating level, prompting authorities to reduce water allocation for irrigation, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said on Saturday, May 16.

As of 8 a.m., data of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that the water level of Angat Dam stood at 178.21 meters, lower than the 178.52 meters recorded on Friday, May 15.

NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. said the current water level is already below the dam’s minimum operating level of 180 meters.

“Opo, sa kasalukuyan po, ang kalagayan po ng level ng Angat Dam ay nasa 178 meters. So ito po ay mababa na doon sa minimum operating level na sinasabi po natin na 180 meters (Yes, at present, the water level of Angat Dam is at 178 meters. This is already below the minimum operating level that we consider at 180 meters),” David said in a radio interview.

“So, bagamat masasabi po nating manageable ang situation, pero nasa panahon po tayo na kailangan ng mabusising pag-monitor po at maagap na management po noong level kasi nga po patuloy po itong bumababa (So, although we can still say the situation is manageable, we are now at a point where close monitoring and proactive management of the water level are necessary because it continues to decline),” he added.

David stated that Angat Dam’s normal high-water level is at 212 meters.

“At ang normal high-water level po niya is nasa 212. 178 po siya sa ngayon. ‘Yan po yung sitwasyon natin ngayon. Medyo mababa na po siya (Its normal high-water level is at 212 meters. Right now, it is only at 178 meters. That is our current situation. The level is already somewhat low),” he said.

Despite the declining level, David assured the public that water supply for Metro Manila remains manageable for now, as domestic consumption is being prioritized.

“Manageable po siya kung ang water supply po sa Metro Manila ang pinag-uusapan po natin. Kasi sa ganito pong sitwasyon, mas binibigyan po natin ang prioridad ang domestic water supply para po sa Metro Manila at karatig probinsya (The situation remains manageable as far as Metro Manila’s water supply is concerned because in situations like this, we prioritize domestic water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces),” he said.

However, David said water releases for irrigation have already been reduced and may soon be suspended if water levels continue to decline.

“Pero po sabi nga po dahil mababa na siya sa minimum operating level ay kailangan na rin po natin i-regulate yung pagre-release ng Angat Dam sa ibang gamit po nito kagaya ng irigasyon (But because the water level is already below the minimum operating level, we now need to regulate the release of water from Angat Dam for its other uses such as irrigation),” he said.

“Kaya sa kasalukuyan po ay binawasan na po ang alokasyon para sa irigasyon po. At by next week po, baka po i-suspend na natin yung pag-release po sa irigasyon (That is why the allocation for irrigation has already been reduced, and by next week, we may suspend water releases for irrigation),” he added.

David clarified that a possible suspension of irrigation releases is not expected to immediately affect farmers since many areas are already nearing harvest season.

“Pero hindi naman po makakaapekto sa ngayon yan kasi nga po ay halos nasa pag-aani na po sila (However, this will not affect them for now because most farmers are already in the harvest season),” he said.

The NWRB official also warned the public to prepare for the possible effects of El Niño, which may develop in the coming months and reduce rainfall needed to replenish dams.

“Tama po yun. Kailangan na rin po natin maghanda na unang-una po dahil patuloy siyang bumababa dahil na po ng summer at ito po kasing pangamba ng El Niño na possible pong pumasok nitong mga buwan ng June or July na aabot hanggang sa susunod na taon (That is correct. We really need to prepare because the water level continues to decline due to summer, and there is concern over a possible El Niño that may develop in June or July and last until next year),” David said.

“Ang ibig po kasing sabihin ng pag may El Niño ay baka po magkaroon ng kabawasan doon sa mga pag-ulan na mararanasan po natin (What El Niño means is that we may experience reduced rainfall),” he added.

David said reduced rainfall may hamper the recovery of major dams, particularly Angat Dam, which supplies the bulk of Metro Manila’s water needs.

“Kaya kung wala hong masyadong pag-ulan, baka hindi makarecover ng maayos yung mga dams po natin, particular itong Angat Dam (If there is not much rainfall, our dams may not recover properly, particularly Angat Dam),” he said.

He urged the public to start practicing water conservation measures to help ensure sufficient water supply in the coming months.

“Kailangan na rin po natin sa kasalukuyan ay nag-aabiso po tayo na mag-practice po tayo ng mga water conservation para naman po may sapat pa rin ang supply natin na pwede magamit sa mga susunod na buwan pa rin po (That is why we are already advising the public to practice water conservation so that we can still have enough water supply for the coming months),” David said.

On May 15, PAGASA said scorching conditions continued across the country as the peak of the warm and dry season brought widespread dangerous heat index levels in most areas nationwide.

PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Liza Solis said heat index levels ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius fall under the “danger” category, with such readings recorded mostly in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

She also noted that coastal and low-lying areas were particularly affected due to higher humidity, which increases heat stress.

PAGASA earlier reported that Borongan, Eastern Samar recorded a heat index of 48 degrees Celsius on May 11, the highest logged so far during the current hot and dry season.