Authorities have started releasing water from the San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan afternoon on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The National Power Corporation said the dam opened one gate at 4 p.m. as water levels neared its 280-meter-above-sea-level spilling threshold. The release rate was recorded at 0.5 meter or 65 cubic meters per second.
Officials said this discharge could raise water levels in the Agno River. A preemptive evacuation in low-lying areas was conducted.
“Mayroon na silang [mga LGUs, DRRMOs] ginawang announcements na kung kinakailangan nang lumikas at lumayo sa tabi ng Agno River lalo na ‘yung mga barangays and municipalities. Mayroon nang abiso ‘yan na dapat lumikas at pumunta sa high grounds,” OCD Region 1 Director Laurence Mina said.
According to the Pangasinan PDRRMO, 24 towns, or 331 barangays, fall within the 100-meter danger zone along the Agno River. These areas have an estimated population of over 143,000 people.
The towns include:
- Asingan
- Rosales
- San Nicolas
- Santa Maria
- San Manuel
- Natividad
- Tayug
- Balungao
- Umingan
- Alcala
- Bautista
- Santo Tomas
- Villasis
- Binmaley
- Bayambang
- San Carlos City
- Aguilar
- Bugallon
- Labrador
- Lingayen
- Mangatarem
- Urbiztondo
The affected towns span Eastern and Central Pangasinan, with water expected to flow downstream toward the Lingayen Gulf.
“Ang dadaluyan ng water release ng San Roque Dam ay sa Eastern Pangasinan, tapos Central going to Lingayen Gulf, doon na mag-e-exit,” Avenix Arenas, Assistant DRRM Officer of Pangasinan, said.
In Bayambang, local responders are monitoring riverside communities closely.
“Kahapon may mga nag-evacuate na ulit. Nakahanda naman tayo kung dadami ang evacuee natin,” Bayambang MDRRM Officer Gene Uy, said.
Residents, like Teresita Laurel, are preparing to leave if water levels rise further.
“Kung tataas ang tubig, talagang lilikas kami,” she said.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Agno River was already above normal levels in Bugallon, Pangasinan.
