Magat Dam continues to release water after Paeng onslaught

More gates at Magat Dam were opened on Sunday morning to release water, a day after Tropical Storm Paeng brought heavy rains to most parts of Luzon.

According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, five radial gates of Magat Dam were scheduled to be opened starting at 7 a.m. up to 11 a.m. 

At 6 a.m. Sunday, Magat Dam, which straddles Isabela and Ifugao, already had two gates open (Radial Gate Nos. 3 and 4) with a 2-meter opening each, data from PAGASA showed. 

The dam's reservoir water level (RWL) was at 191.56 meters at 6 a.m. on Sunday, which is near the 193-meter spilling level or normal high water level (NHWL).

This was an increase over the 186.94-meter RWL at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

The additional five gates will be opened on Sunday at the following schedules:

• 7 a.m.: Radial Gate No. 5 - one meter opening at 7 a.m., to be increased to two meters at 7:30 a.m.
• 8 a.m.: Radial Gate No. 6 - one meter opening at 8 a.m., to be increased to two meters at 8:30 a.m.
• 9 a.m.: Radial Gate No. 7 - one meter opening at 9 a.m., to be increased to two meters at 9:30 a.m.
• 10 a.m.: Radial Gate No. 1 - one meter opening at 10 a.m., to be increased to two meters at 10:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m.: Radial Gate No. 2 - one meter opening at 11 a.m., to be increased to two meters at 11:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m. thus, all four radial gates of Magat Dam will be open at 14 meters. Located on Magat River, the Magat Dam is a major tributary of the Cagayan River.

PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was hoisted over nine areas in Luzon on Sunday morning as Paeng taverses the West Philippine Sea. 

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile was also raised over several areas including Isabela and Ifugao.

Paeng is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains on Sunday morning over the northern portion of Cagayan and other areas, PAGASA added. —KG, GMA News