HAGONOY, Bulacan – Metro Manila’s potable water supply is now secured for another six months as water elevation at the Angat Dam climbed to 199.25 meters on Sunday.
Engineer Rodolfo German, general manager of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp), said that rains in the past weeks contributed to higher elevation at the dam.
He said they expect that water elevation at the Angat will continue to climb as the state weather bureau forecasted La Niña in the latter part of the year.
La Niña is a weather phenomenon highlighted by above normal rainfall.
“We have enough water for Metro Manila until the summer months, and probably until the next rainy season if we forecasted La Niña will come true,” German said.
As of Sunday morning, water elevation at the dam climbed to 199.25 meters, but German said it is 10 meters lower than the average water elevation at this time of the year.
He also said that they are now releasing 32 cubic meters per second (cms) of water to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). “For irrigation, there is no need.”
Liz Mungcal, head of the provincial disaster management office, said that based on a memorandum of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), farmers are supposed to receive 15 cms at this time of the year.
However, said allocation is dependent on the current needs of farmers.
Liza Sacdalan of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC) of Plaridel town affirmed to Punto that majority of farmers in the province do not need water allocation at present.
She said that most local farmers are harvesting their rice crops.
“Umaani pa sa kasalukuyan at Disyembre pa uli magsisipagtanim,” she said.
Sacdalan also said that what farmers need now are flatbed dryers.
She added that local farmers are harvesting crops that survived the onslaught of super typhoon Juan and are having hard time drying their palay.
“Hindi makatuyo ang maraming magsasaka dahil sa biglang uumuulan,” she said.
At present, there are flatbed dryers in the towns of Plaridel, Guiguinto, Baliuag, San Rafael, Calumpit, Pulilan, Pandi, Bulakan, and Bustos.
But Sacdalan said those are not enough.
She also said that flatbed dryers are only capable of drying 70 to 80 sacks per day, and farmers spend at least two liters of diesel to operate the dryers.
Engineer Rodolfo German, general manager of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp), said that rains in the past weeks contributed to higher elevation at the dam.
He said they expect that water elevation at the Angat will continue to climb as the state weather bureau forecasted La Niña in the latter part of the year.
La Niña is a weather phenomenon highlighted by above normal rainfall.
“We have enough water for Metro Manila until the summer months, and probably until the next rainy season if we forecasted La Niña will come true,” German said.
As of Sunday morning, water elevation at the dam climbed to 199.25 meters, but German said it is 10 meters lower than the average water elevation at this time of the year.
He also said that they are now releasing 32 cubic meters per second (cms) of water to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). “For irrigation, there is no need.”
Liz Mungcal, head of the provincial disaster management office, said that based on a memorandum of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), farmers are supposed to receive 15 cms at this time of the year.
However, said allocation is dependent on the current needs of farmers.
Liza Sacdalan of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC) of Plaridel town affirmed to Punto that majority of farmers in the province do not need water allocation at present.
She said that most local farmers are harvesting their rice crops.
“Umaani pa sa kasalukuyan at Disyembre pa uli magsisipagtanim,” she said.
Sacdalan also said that what farmers need now are flatbed dryers.
She added that local farmers are harvesting crops that survived the onslaught of super typhoon Juan and are having hard time drying their palay.
“Hindi makatuyo ang maraming magsasaka dahil sa biglang uumuulan,” she said.
At present, there are flatbed dryers in the towns of Plaridel, Guiguinto, Baliuag, San Rafael, Calumpit, Pulilan, Pandi, Bulakan, and Bustos.
But Sacdalan said those are not enough.
She also said that flatbed dryers are only capable of drying 70 to 80 sacks per day, and farmers spend at least two liters of diesel to operate the dryers.
