Dams should release water before typhoons strike –DILG's Año

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday said dams should be opened to release water even before a typhoon strikes so that it will no longer contribute to heavy flooding.

Año, during a security briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte in Cagayan amid the massive flooding experienced in the region due to Typhoon Ulysses, said that six dams in the area opened their water gates which contributed to the flooding.

"I think we will propose na in times of calamities and typhoon, dapat merong nagkokontrol diyan. Sino, kailan bubuksan ang dam," he said.

"Dapat before the bagyo pwede na tayong magbukas lalo na kung meron tayong forecast kung gaano kalaki yung ulan na darating," he added.

Año said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) should be given the authority to control the opening of dams especially when there is a typhoon.

"I will propose na pag-usapan namin sa NDRRMC na sa times ng calamity o typhoon, ang NDRRMC ang magbibigay ng approval kung kailan pwede magbukas, ilang gate, para controlled natin," he said.

"Yan ang sinasabi ng ating mga LGUs, katulad sa Region IV, III at NCR na nakadagdag talaga ng pagbaha ang pagbubukas ng dam," he added.

While Malacañang earlier denied that it had been caught off-guard by the flooding in Cagayan and Isabela, relief and rescue efforts were mobilized by the public, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Navy, and Vice President Leni Robredo, who coordinated rescue efforts with the Army and the Marines. — DVM, GMA News