MALOLOS CITY – Water elevation at the Angat dam finally climbed over the critical 180 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday after dropping to record low of 157.54 masl on July 14.
This came as super typhoon Juan brought heavy rains to Northern and parts of Central Luzon with strong winds which kept disaster coordinating councils on alert.
Records from the Provincial Disaster Management Office showed that as of 8 a.m. on Sunday, water elevation at the giant reservoir climbed to 180.49 masl.
However, the said water elevation remains low compared to 195 to 200 masl average water elevation at this time of year.
“This is good news, we might have enough water for irrigation until the next cropping season,” said Liza Sacdalan of the Central Luzon Organic Rice Producers Association (Clorpa) based in Plaridel town.
The same was echoed by Engineer Rodolfo German, general manager of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp) of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) that manages the Angat dam.
He said they expect water elevation at the dam to climb higher due to rains brought by typhoon Juan. They also expect rains that will be brought by the forecasted La Nina phenomenon.
“We hope and we wish that water elevation at the dam will return to normal levels soon,” German said.
Last April, water elevation at the dam dropped to critical 180 meters, and further dropped to record low of 157.54 masl on July 14 due to extended effects of El Nino.
This delayed land preparation and planting of local farmers which usually start in June, though many of them literally gambled on water brought by rains.
As rice crops began to approach its flowering stage last September, farmers faced the dilemma of lack of water for irrigation as water elevation at the dam remained below the critical 180 meters.
However, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) finally gave in to lobbying by Bulacan and Pampanga officials for a rescue allocation for irrigation.
On September 29, the NWRB allocated 20 cubic meters per second for 100-days and extended it to another 10 days until yesterday.
Meanwhile, the PDMO said that municipal disaster coordinating offices and different rescue groups in the province are on alert due to possible onslaught of typhoons.
This came as super typhoon Juan brought heavy rains to Northern and parts of Central Luzon with strong winds which kept disaster coordinating councils on alert.
Records from the Provincial Disaster Management Office showed that as of 8 a.m. on Sunday, water elevation at the giant reservoir climbed to 180.49 masl.
However, the said water elevation remains low compared to 195 to 200 masl average water elevation at this time of year.
“This is good news, we might have enough water for irrigation until the next cropping season,” said Liza Sacdalan of the Central Luzon Organic Rice Producers Association (Clorpa) based in Plaridel town.
The same was echoed by Engineer Rodolfo German, general manager of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp) of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) that manages the Angat dam.
He said they expect water elevation at the dam to climb higher due to rains brought by typhoon Juan. They also expect rains that will be brought by the forecasted La Nina phenomenon.
“We hope and we wish that water elevation at the dam will return to normal levels soon,” German said.
Last April, water elevation at the dam dropped to critical 180 meters, and further dropped to record low of 157.54 masl on July 14 due to extended effects of El Nino.
This delayed land preparation and planting of local farmers which usually start in June, though many of them literally gambled on water brought by rains.
As rice crops began to approach its flowering stage last September, farmers faced the dilemma of lack of water for irrigation as water elevation at the dam remained below the critical 180 meters.
However, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) finally gave in to lobbying by Bulacan and Pampanga officials for a rescue allocation for irrigation.
On September 29, the NWRB allocated 20 cubic meters per second for 100-days and extended it to another 10 days until yesterday.
Meanwhile, the PDMO said that municipal disaster coordinating offices and different rescue groups in the province are on alert due to possible onslaught of typhoons.
