Angat Dam dips below critical level

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — Palay farms in Central Luzon that depend on Bustos Dam for irrigation supply have to wait until the water level in Angat Dam recovers.

As of 11 a.m. yesterday, Angat’s elevation was 159.96 meters or four centimeters below the dam’s critical level of 160 meters, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.

The elevation was 20.04 meters below Angat’s minimum operating level of 180, and 52.04 below its normal high water level of 212 meters during rainy season.

Christian Manalo, chief of the National Irrigation Administration for Central Luzon, said that irrigation water coming from Angat passes through the Bustos Dam.

Due to the critical water level in Angat, irrigation supply for around 25,000 hectares of palay farms in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga is currently on hold.

In a text message to The STAR, Manalo said that if the elevation reaches 185 meters or more, Angat can release water to Bustos for the irrigation needs of palay farms.

Liza Sacdalan, farmer-leader and chairperson of the Plaridel-Guiguinto Irrigation Association, said the release of irrigation water scheduled on Aug. 15 remains uncertain due to the current situation in Angat.

The release, originally set on July 15 for this wet cropping season, has been deferred as dam operators wait for the elevation in Angat to rise above the minimum operating level.

In the wake of Angat’s low elevation and the threat posed by El Niño, the National Water Resources Board advised residents of Metro Manila to conserve water.

Angat supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs.