Bustos Dam to release water Saturday night; Governor blames Ipo Dam

The Bustos Dam in Bulacan has ordered the release of water for Saturday night, with the governor blaming Ipo Dam's "uncoordinated" release of its excess water draining into the Bustos' irrigation reservoir.

Citing information from the Bulacan province's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), GMA News' Jonathan Andal reported on Super Radyo dzBB that Bustos Dam will release water at 500 cubic meters per second, threatening to swamp parts of the towns of Bustos, Pulilan, Plaridel and Hagonoy.

Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado, told dzBB that Butos Dam is forced to release excess water, blaming the administration of the Ipo Dam, also in Bualcan, for dumping its water to Bustos Dam when the reservoir is already filled to the brim.

He said that Bustos Dam has  limited capacity, and besides, Ipo Dam's water is supposed to be consigned ("365 days") to La Mesa Dam that supplies water to Metro Manila.

"Bakit bigla na lang sila (Ipo Dam managers) magpapakawala ng tubig patungo sa Bustos, ngayon na punong-puno na rin ito?"

Alvarado threatened to sue Ipo Dam's administration for not coordinating with the affected local governments in dumping its excess water, in what he considered as gross "mismanagement."

"Definitely, a big part of the towns of Calumpit and Hagonoy will be greatly affected by the release of water from Bustos Dam."

But Alvarado promised to call the attention of the Ipo Dam about the release of water. —LBG, GMA News