Angat, Ipo dams release water after heavy rains

The Angat Dam and Ipo Dam, both in Norzagaray, Bulacan, had several of their gates open to release water on Saturday, according to PAGASA.

This was after heavy rains poured over the past several days and the reservoir water level (RWL) at the dams reached or neared the spilling level.

At 6 a.m. on Saturday, Angat Dam had three gates open at 8.5 meters.

Ipo Dam meanwhile had six gates open at 9.2 meters.

The RWL of Angat Dam at 6 a.m. on Saturday was recorded at 215.03 meters, which is above the spilling level or normal high water level (NHWL) of 212 meters.

Meanwhile, Ipo Dam's RWL at 6 a.m. on Saturday was at 101.04 meters, near its NHWL of 101.10 meters.

"Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-release ng Angat Dam dahil tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pag-ulan kahit na light rains. Pero 'yung mga tubig ulan na bumagsak sa kabundukan ay kasalukuyan pa lang na bumababa sa watershed ng Angat kaya continuous po ang release niya," hydrologist Ailene Abelardo of PAGASA's Hydrometeorology Division said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The release of water at Angat Dam is continuous because there are still light rains. The rain water that poured over the mountains [in recent days] are only now going to the watershed of Angat.)

Abelardo said the communities affected by the release of water from Angat and Ipo Dams are those along the Angat River in Norzagaray including the towns of Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong at Hagonoy.

Meanwhile, an advisory was issued regarding the release of water at Magat Dam which straddles Isabela and Ifugao provinces. 

Abelardo however said there is a low chance that Magat Dam will release water at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Abelardo: Nag-isyu kahapon ang Magat Dam ng pre-release pero mababa pa ang tiyansa na sila ay mag-release mamayang 4:00 pm...

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 6, 2023

PAGASA said Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Mimaropa (except Palawan), Bicol Region, Aurora, and Quezon will have cloudy skies with rains on Saturday due to the Northeast Monsoon. Moderate to at times heavy rains may lead to flash floods or landslides. 

Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao meanwhile will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms brought about by the trough of a low pressure area and shear line. Flooding or landslides may be possible due to moderate to heavy rains. —KG, GMA Integrated News