Magat Dam water released to mitigate possible flooding
Magat Dam authorities have started to release water from the reservoir in Isabela on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of heavy water inflow coming from the upstream areas.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) advised the opening of one gate with a one-meter opening around 4 p.m.
An estimated 200 cubic meters per second of water will be discharged due to the "expected heavy inflow" of upstream water from tropical storm Pepito's rains.
Based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Magat Dam's water level rose to 187.98 meters from 187.52 meters.
It is 5.02 meters short of its 193-meter spilling level.
The regulation of outflow from Magat Dam is done to mitigate flood damage to the downstream.
However, communities surrounding the Magat River should stay alert for possible flooding, particularly those in the towns of Ramon, San Mateo, Luna, Aurora, Burgos, Gamu, and Naguilian.