Magat Dam discharges water; residents warned of possible flooding

The National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) on Saturday warned residents in Northern Luzon of possible flooding as it announced it is discharging almost 800 cubic meters per second (cms) of water.

In a notice, the NIA-MRIIS said Gate 4 of Magat Dam was opened at two meters, releasing excess water at 393 cms.

Gate 3 meanwhile opened at one meter at 8 a.m. with a discharge of 179 cms.

However, the gate opening was increased to two meters at 9 a.m. with a discharge of 393 cms.

The Magat Dam is thus discharging 786 cms of water on Saturday morning.

Residents of upper, middle and lower Cagayan were warned of possible flooding as moderate to heavy rains are expected.

PAGASA on Saturday said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the tail-end of a cold front are expected over mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora and Benguet.

The Northeast Monsoon or Amihan meanwhile will prevail over the Ilocos region, Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

The state weather bureau warned residents in the said areas of possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains.

Evacuation, landslide

About 40 families on Saturday were evacuated from a barangay in Tuguegarao after the city in Cagayan experienced flooding anew resulting from incessant rains brought by the tail-end of a cold front.

In San Mateo, Isabela, 50 families had their houses flooded after the irrigation canal nearby overflowed its banks following heavy rains from the tail-end of a frontal system.

Meanwhile, a rescue van from Cagayan got stranded in mud and was hit by rocks after a landslide occurred in Mt. Province. Authorities already conducted clearing operation.

Isabela and Cagayan were placed under state of calamity earlier this month after Typhoon Ulysses' onslaught as massive flooding submerged houses, and residents had to seek shelter on rooftops.

The NIA received criticisms that the release of water from Magat Dam caused widespread flooding in Cagayan and Isabela two weeks ago.

NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya however said the gates of Magat Dam had to be opened amid heavy rains from Ulysses to prevent the dam from breaking and causing a bigger catastrophe.

Visaya also maintained that the opening of the water gates of Magat Dam was not the major cause of the flooding in Cagayan and Isabela.

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food thus conducted an investigation to look into the decision of NIA to open the spillway gates of Magat Dam, and if such a move was done following established guidelines and protocols.

At the hearing, Visaya said the Magat Dam was not designed for flood control, as he cited their operations manual that said "[i]t is emphasized that there is no provision for the storage of floodwater in the Magat reservoir unless the reservoir is below the full supply level of 193 (meters) when the flood arrives."

Visaya further said the P5 to P10-million annual budget for the maintenance of the Magat Dam is not enough.  —Jamil Santos/KG/LBG, GMA News