Ipo Dam opens one gate due to Tropical Depression Ada

The Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan opened one gate on Wednesday in anticipation of the possible rainfall from Tropical Depression Ada.

According to the state weather bureau, one gate was open at 0.2 meters, releasing water at 37.90 cubic meters per second (cms) as of 8 a.m.

“Mahina lang ito kaya hindi tayo nag-eexpect ng major impact sa ating mga ilog,” PAGASA hydrologist Juan Paulo Pamintuan said in a press briefing.

(The water release was slow so we are not expecting any major impact on our rivers.)

Some areas in Bulacan are expected to be affected by the water release, such as Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong and Hagonoy.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, six areas in the Visayas and Mindanao are now under Signal No. 1 due to Tropical Depression Ada. These are:

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur

The center of the tropical depression was estimated based on all available data at 635 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving northwestward at 35 km/h and packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa.

Ada is seen to move west northwestward to northwestward over the next three days. 

It will pass close or make landfall over Eastern Visayas on Friday, January 16 or early Saturday, January 17 before passing close or make landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday or Sunday, January 18.

It will then turn generally northeastward over the sea east of Luzon.

Ada is forecast to reach tropical storm category within the next 24 hours and will continue to gradually intensify over the Philippine Sea. — JMA, GMA Integrated News