Ambuklao, Binga dam gates still open to release water

Two dams in Luzon still had their gates open on Monday morning to release water after days of heavy rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

At 6 a.m., Ambuklao Dam in Benguet had one gate open at 0.50 meters, same as on Sunday, data from PAGASA showed.

Ambuklao Dam's reservoir water level (RWL) was at 751.33 meters on Monday. This was a 0.16-meter decrease from Sunday's level of 751.49 meters. 

The dam's normal high water level (NHWL) is 752 meters thus the release of water was necessary.

Binga Dam in Benguet had two gates open on Monday morning at one meter. Only one gate was open on Sunday at 0.30 meter.

The dam's RWL was at 574.30 meters on Monday, a slight increase over Sunday's level of 574.10 meters. The NHWL of Binga Dam is 575 meters.

Meanwhile, the water level at other Luzon dams went up on Monday after the rains caused by Habagat:

• Angat Dam: 199.82 meters
• La Mesa Dam: 79.36 meters
• Pantabangan Dam: 191.12 meters
• Caliraya Dam: 287.81 meters

On the other hand, the water level in the following dams went down on Monday, based on PAGASA's data:

• Ipo Dam: 100.75 meters
• San Roque Dam: 262.23 meters
• Magat Dam: 176 meters

The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect the western section of Luzon and will bring cloudy skies, rain showers and thunderstorms on parts of the country on Monday, PAGASA said in its forecast.

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Benguet will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country on the other hand may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the monsoon and localized thunderstorms. —KG, GMA Integrated News