Back floods, dam spills to affect Bulacan areas

MALOLOS, Philippines — Residents in low-lying areas in Bulacan have been advised to watch out for the possible rise of floodwaters due to back floods and water discharged from dams.

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said floodwaters coming from the nearby Pampanga River Basin and San Jose del Monte City may raise water levels and submerge several areas.

Floodwaters coming from the Pampanga River Basin flow toward Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong before draining out to Manila Bay, and may be exacerbated by the high tide.

Floodwaters from San Jose del Monte City flow to river systems in Meycauayan, Marilao, Santa Maria and Bocaue.

Flooding in Meycauayan, Marilao and Bocaue can be aggravated by the high tide, provincial disaster officials said.

Meanwhile, water discharged from Angat, Bustos and Ipo dams flows toward Angat River and passes through several low-lying towns before draining out to Manila Bay.

Maria Teresa Serra, chief of the Angat Dam flood forecasting and warning division at the National Power Corp., said that at 2 p.m. yesterday, the reservoir’s floodgates were opened to release 336 cubic meters per second (cms) of water to Angat’s downstream river system.

Ipo and Bustos dams released 421 and 544 cms of water respectively, Serra said.