Magat Dam opens 6 spillway gates due to Severe Tropical Storm Paolo 

Six spillway gates in Magat Dam were opened on Friday due to the heavy rainfall brought by Severe Tropical Storm Paolo, the National Irrigation Administration - Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) said. 

Magat Dam is located on the Magat River at the boundary between the municipalities of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao and Ramon in Isabela. 

“Sa patuloy na pag-uulan dulot ng TS Paolo, nakakapagtala ang ating rainfall gauges ng malalaking volume ng tubig na pumapasok sa ating Magat Watershed na dadaloy sa ating Magat Reservoir,” the advisory read. 

(Due to the continuous rain brought by TS Paolo, our rainfall gauges are recording a large volume of water flowing into our Magat Watershed which will drain into our Magat Reservoir.) 

“Para mapanatili ang ligtas na lebel ng tubig sa ating Magat Dam and Reservoir, at magbigay espasyo sa posibleng malaking tubig ulan na papasok, magkakaroon ng mga karagdagang pagbubukas sa ating Magat Dam Spillway gates,” it added. 

(To maintain a safe water level in our Magat Dam and Reservoir, and to create space for a possibly large influx of rainwater, there will be additional openings of our Magat Dam Spillway gates.) 

Paolo has weakened into a severe tropical storm as of 2 p.m.  Ifugao and parts of Isabela are currently under Signal No. 4.— Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News