Irrigation allocation from Angat Dam to be slashed anew on May 1

The allocation for irrigation coming from the Angat Dam will once again be slashed starting May as farmers start to harvest their crops, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David, Jr. on Sunday announced that starting May 1, the allocation for irrigation will be decreased to 10 cubic meters from the current allocation of 35 cubic meters.

"Sa ngayon, 'yung pangangailangan din ng irigasyon sa mga palay natin ay nando'n na po sa sinasabi nating... malapit na po kasi sila mag-ani at 'yung pangangailangan nila sa tubig sa ganoong panahon ay hindi na po kagaya ng dati," he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Hindi po gano'n kalaki ang tubig na pangangailangan nila sa isang banda, kaya puwede na rin tayong magbawas. Sa isang banda rin ay nakakatulong ito sa pangangalaga ng lebel ng tubig ng supply sa dam," explained David.

As of Sunday morning, David said the water level at the Angat Dam was at 183.55 meters, or 28.45 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters.

With the prolonged drought brought about by the El Niño, David said the level may reach the critical level of 180 meters by the end of the month.

"Sa tingin natin, bago umabot, bago magtapos ang buwan ng Abril aabot siya (ng 180 meters). 'Pag umabot kasi ng 180 meters, mas binibigyan natin ng prayoridad 'yung pangangailangan ng tubig sa domestic," said David.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the El Niño is expected to slash a "minimal" 0.2 percentage points from the Philippine economic growth this year.

Earlier this month, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said agricultural losses brought about by the El Niño have hit P5.05 billion. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News