Dam water levels continue to decline amid El Niño

The water levels in seven major dams have been declining for two months amid the ongoing effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the country.

Based on the 6 a.m. update of state weather bureau PAGASA on Wednesday, the water levels in the following dams slightly dropped:

• Angat Dam (from 202.78 meters on Tuesday to 202.47 meters on Wednesday)
• La Mesa  (from 75.96 m to 75.92 m)
• Ambuklao  (from 747.49 m to 747.36 m)
• San Roque (from 238.53 m to 238.26 m)
• Pantabangan (from 182.09 m to 181.80 m) 
• Magat (from 172.00 m to 171.99 m)
• Caliraya (from 286.82 m to 286.67 m)

Meanwhile, the water levels increased in Ipo Dam, from 99.51 m to 99.55 m, as well as in Binga Dam, from 569.72 m to 569.82 m.

The current levels of these dams are already below their respective Normal High Water Levels (NHWL) amid the hot weather and higher consumption of water.

Water shortage

Water shortages for drinking and agriculture have been reported in six barangays in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental since December 2023, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its Wednesday report.

Twelve hospitals in Zamboanga City were affected by the water shortage and were scheduled to receive 12 hours of rationing per day. A rationing scheme is being implemented on the west coast and in the central areas of the city.

The total production loss and cost of damage in agriculture due to El Niño were estimated at P1,236,853,305. Western Visayas reported the highest cost of agricultural damage with P678,705,381.

A total of 29, 409 farmers and fisherfolks as well as 26,731 hectares of crops were affected in the country due to the El Niño.

A state of calamity was declared in Bulalacao and Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro, Looc in Occidental Mindoro, and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur.

Financial assistance worth P426,061,272 has been provided to the affected individuals in Mimaropa so far, the NDRRMC said.

State weather bureau PAGASA declared the start of the El Niño phenomenon on July 4 last year.

The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean leading to below normal rainfall. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News