Magat Dam will release water on Sunday to keep a safe level — NIA

The Magat Dam is set to release water on Sunday, August 7, in order to maintain a safe water level amid rains spawned by a low pressure area and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

In an advisory on Saturday, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said the dam, which straddles Ifugao and Isabela provinces, was scheduled to release water at a rate of 200 cubic meters per second at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The rate may increase depending on the amount of rainfall at the Magat watershed, it added.

“Kaugnay nito, aming pinapakiusap na iwasan muna natin ang pagtawid, pamamalagi, at pati pagpastol ng ating alagang hayop sa ilog o sa katabi nito para makaiwas tayo sa anumang sakuna dulot ng maaaring pagtaas ng tubig,” the NIA said.

(We ask the public to avoid crossing, staying, and even bringing pets into the river or near it so that we can avoid any disaster caused by a possible rise in water levels.)

Based on PAGASA’s 4 p.m. weather forecast, the LPA was located 320 kilometers west of Dagupan City at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Visayas.

Flash floods or landslides may occur due to moderate to at times heavy rains, according to PAGASA.

The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. —VBL, GMA News