Successive rains raise dam water levels

The successive rains have increased the water level in various dam reservoirs in the country, a report on ''24 Oras Weekend'' said Saturday. 

At 6 a.m. on Saturday, Angat Dam's water level was 191.70 meters, 11 meters higher than its minimum operating level, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA. 

However, conserving water is still necessary amid El Niño, which is characterized by below-normal rainfall.

PAGASA said that the country still needs two to three more tropical cyclones to fill the Angat Dam, whose normal high water level is 210 meters.

As of 9:30 p.m., PAGASA said the water level of La Mesa Dam was 79.81 meters and is expected to rise due to continuous occasional rains caused by the Southwest Monsoon.

"Excess floodwaters in La Mesa Dam will overflow in the event that the dam elevation reaches 80.15 meters," it said. 

The excess water may affect low-lying areas along the Tullahan River from Quezon City (Fairview, Forest Hills Subd., Quirino Highway, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome), Valenzuela (Brgy. Ligon, North Expressway, La Huerta Subd.), and Malabon.

"All the residents living in the aforementioned areas, especially those near the river banks, are advised to be alert for possible flooding,'' it said. 

PAGASA will continue to monitor the hydrological condition of the La Mesa Dam and provide an update to the concerned agencies and local government units.

As of 6 a.m., one gate was still open in Ipo Dam to release excess water. 

In Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam, three gates were opened at 1.5 meters each. 

However, the San Roque Dam in Benguet and Pangasinan still needs rainwater to reach the normal high water level of 280 meters.

The water level at Bustos Dam is reportedly back to normal.  — Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News