San Roque Dam to release water on Sept. 2, 2026

The public is advised that the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan will release water on Wednesday, September 2, as a precautionary measure.

In a Facebook post, the Pangasinan provincial government shared a notice from the National Power Corporation saying that as of 12 noon Tuesday, the San Roque Dam has reached 283.68 meters above sea level.

As a result, spilling operations need to be conducted. Two gates will be opened at two meters, which will be equivalent to 300 cubic meters per second.

It has an inflow of 714 cubic meters per second and an outflow of 270 cubic meters per second.

EXPLAINER: Where does dam water go once it overflows?

When dams overflow or their gates are opened, the water flows into rivers.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), water must be released from dams before they overflow to protect their structural integrity.

The damage could be far worse if the structure were to break and a large volume of water suddenly rushed into nearby communities.

Water flowing from dams into rivers raises water levels downstream, which can cause flooding in communities near rivers, particularly in low-lying areas. — VDV, GMA News