Marcos: Keep an eye on dams amid Kristine

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered concerned agencies to closely monitor water dams in anticipation of the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine in Luzon.

Marcos made the directive during a situational briefing with government agencies and offices in Camp Aguinaldo as he wants to avoid severe flooding. He said he prefers the gradual release of water from dams. 

''Kahit hindi pa high water level, magbitaw na tayo nang kaunti. Pababain na natin na hindi apektado ‘yung mga downstream communities,'' Marcos said.

(Let's decrease the water level even if they're not that high so that downstream communities won't be affected.)

''Magbitaw na tayo ng tubig para pagdating nung malakas na ulan mababa na – hindi naman mababa pero mas naibaba natin ‘yung tubig para mayroon tayong kaunting breathing room,'' he added.

(Let's release water so that if there are heavy rains, we have a little breathing room.)

On Wednesday morning, one gate each was opened at Magat Dam and Binga Dam as Tropical Storm Kristine continued to bring rains in the country.

As of 8 a.m., state weather bureau PAGASA said a gate at Magat Dam, which is located between Ifugao and Isabela, was open at 1.0 meter, releasing water at 132.00 cubic meters per second (CMS).

The dam's reservoir water level (RWL) was at 182.28 meters, slightly lower than Tuesday’s 182.99 meters. It has a 193-meter normal high water level (NHWL).

Meanwhile, Binga Dam in Benguet was opened at 0.5 meters, releasing 11.99 CMS of water. Its RWL also decreased from 574.20 meters on Tuesday to 573 meters on Wednesday. It has a 575-meter NHWL.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised in 26 areas in Luzon as Kristine maintained its strength while approaching the Isabela and northern Aurora area, weather agency PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin.

Kristine is forecast to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall while there will be slight weakening when it crosses Northern Luzon.

PAGASA said re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea.

Kristine is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, according to PAGASA. — VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News