Updates on Bulacan dams’ structural integrity sought

MALOLOS, Philippines — Residents of Bulacan are asking for regular updates on the structural integrity of the three dams in the province in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that hit Luzon on Monday.

Martin Francisco, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc. chairman, appealed to concerned government agencies to review the protocols in releasing advisories on the status of the dams after a quake.

“Buti pa ang mga opisyales ng MRT at mga eskwelahan agad nagpalabas ng advisory na tigil muna ang operation o walang pasok... to check on the stability of  their buildings. In case of the dams, who gives the advisory?” Francisco asked.

Marlu Salazar, Office of the Civil Defense-Central Luzon director, had earlier told The STAR that there are only a few evacuation centers that can be used in case of a dam break.

The Bulacan disaster risk reduction management office has yet to release the list of these evacuation centers.

There are three dams in Bulacan – Angat, which is Metro Manila’s main water source; Ipo, which provides 97 percent of the raw water needs of Metro Manila residents, and Bustos, which irrigates farms in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 7.2-magnitude earthquake could trigger the collapse of the 52-year-old Angat Dam.