| By Charlie Lagasca (The Philippine Star) Updated October 21, 2010 12:00 AM |
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) started releasing excess water from the Magat Dam late Tuesday night to prevent possible damage to the dam’s irrigation and power facilities.
However, NIA engineer Saturnino Tenedor allayed fears of massive floods in downstream towns or areas near the periphery of the dam, whose main plant and reservoir are located along the Isabela-Ifugao border.
Tenedor said they released excess water from the dam on a controlled or gradual basis to avoid flooding in low-lying towns and farmlands.
“There is no danger of major flooding downstream since the release of the water was controlled. Therefore, any reports of flooding further downstream could not be solely attributed to the dam,” he said.
Since late Tuesday night, dam personnel have started releasing excess water from the dam’s reservoir after the water elevation reached its spill level at 193 meters amid continued rains in the aftermath of typhoon “Juan.”
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the dam’s water elevation was at 193.49 meters, forcing dam officials to continue releasing water to avoid reaching the critical level, which may cause undue damage to the dam.
Reports said the rate of release of water from the dam was 190.84 cubic meters per second to avoid massive flooding in the downstream towns of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Roxas, Mallig, Santa Maria, San Manuel and Cabatuan and Santiago City as well as some parts of northern Isabela and Cagayan.
However, NIA engineer Saturnino Tenedor allayed fears of massive floods in downstream towns or areas near the periphery of the dam, whose main plant and reservoir are located along the Isabela-Ifugao border.
Tenedor said they released excess water from the dam on a controlled or gradual basis to avoid flooding in low-lying towns and farmlands.
“There is no danger of major flooding downstream since the release of the water was controlled. Therefore, any reports of flooding further downstream could not be solely attributed to the dam,” he said.
Since late Tuesday night, dam personnel have started releasing excess water from the dam’s reservoir after the water elevation reached its spill level at 193 meters amid continued rains in the aftermath of typhoon “Juan.”
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the dam’s water elevation was at 193.49 meters, forcing dam officials to continue releasing water to avoid reaching the critical level, which may cause undue damage to the dam.
Reports said the rate of release of water from the dam was 190.84 cubic meters per second to avoid massive flooding in the downstream towns of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Roxas, Mallig, Santa Maria, San Manuel and Cabatuan and Santiago City as well as some parts of northern Isabela and Cagayan.
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