4 Luzon dams' gates still open to release water after Kristine onslaught

Four dams in Luzon had some of their gates opened on Saturday morning to release water, data from PAGASA showed.

Ipo Dam, Ambuklao Dam, Binga Dam, and Magat Dam are the dams involved, according to PAGASA-Flood Forecasting and Warning Section.

At 8 a.m., Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan had one gate open at 0.15 meters as its reservoir water level (RWL) stood at 100.30 meters, near the normal high water level (NHWL) or spilling level at 101.10 meters.

Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Benguet had one gate open at 8 a.m., at 0.5 meters. On Friday, it had four gates open. At 8 a.m., Ambuklao Dam's RWL was at 751.42 meters, less than a meter away from the 752-meter NHWL.

Binga Dam in Itogon, also in Benguet, meanwhile had two gates open on Saturday, a decrease from the six gates open on Friday. The gates were opened on Saturday at 1.0 meters. The RWL on Saturday was at 574.01 meters, near the NHWL of 575 meters.

Magat Dam, which straddles Ifugao and Isabela, still had one gate open on Saturday, same as on Friday. The gate opening was at 2 meters. The RWL on Saturday was at 189.46 meters, a few meters away from the 193 meters NHWL.

Meanwhile, San Roque Dam in Pangasinan and Benguet had no more gate open on Saturday. On Friday, it had one gate open at 0.5 meters. The RWL on Saturday was at 277.42 meters, a few meters away from the NHWL of 280 meters.

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) brought heavy rains to Luzon and other areas of the country in the past few days, which increased the water level in the dam reservoirs. —KG, GMA Integrated News