Speaker wants probe on Cagayan and Isabela flooding

The House of Representatives will conduct an investigation into the caused of massive flooding that submerged many areas in Cagayan and Isabela provinces during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

The proposal to hold the investigation, in aid of legislation, is contained in House Resolution 1348, filed on Monday no less than by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano.

“As the death toll continues to rise, and the extent of damage is slowly being revealed, there is an urgent need to examine the actions that were taken during, before and after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses,” Velasco said in a statement.

In calling for the probe, the three House leaders cited the “gravity and unprecedented nature of the situation, the geographic propensity of the country to natural calamities, and the need to prevent similar situations from occurring.”

Specifically, the lawmakers wanted to find out the circumstances that led to the rapid inflow of water into the reservoir, as well as the possible non-compliance with laws, rules, or regulations that may have contributed to the swelling of Cagayan River.

At the same time, they also wanted the House to look into the decision of the National Irrigation Administration to open the spillway gates of Magat Dam, and if such a move was done following established guidelines and protocols.

"Given the circumstances and the predicted Category-4 strength of Typhoon Ulysses, the forecast should have prompted concerned government agencies and local government units to take necessary preemptive action to mitigate possible adverse effects on local communities," the resolution read.

Typhoon Ulysses exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on morning of November 13 after it battered parts of Metro Manila, Bicol Region, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Calabarzon, causing power failures and massive flooding in areas along its pathway.

With rescue operations already underway in Marikina City and several provinces, including Pampanga, word came of massive flooding in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, due in part to the release of water from Magat Dam and other reservoirs after the typhoon.

National Irrigation Administration Administrator Ricardo Visaya on Monday said the gates of Magat Dam had to be opened since last week amid heavy rains from the typhoon to prevent the dam from breaking and causing a bigger catastrophe.

Magat Dam had seven gates open at one point on Nov. 12 and released water volume equivalent to 106.223 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or around two swimming pools per second.

"Ang laki ng ating reservoir ng Magat [Dam] is about 4,800 hectares. 'Pag ito ang na-break, lumampas sa spilling level na 193 meters above mean sea level, mag-spill po 'yan. Masisira po 'yan at milyon-milyon po na tao ang maaapektuhan," Visaya said.

A total of 67 individuals have died following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, while 21 individuals were wounded and 13 are still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. —LDF, GMA News