Luzon dams release water anew; villages submerged

UMINGAN, Pangasinan -- Several dams in northern Luzon have started releasing water anew after reaching their spilling level, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Oct. 15.

Some villages in Central Luzon including Pangasinan in Region 1 are now “moderately submerged” anew with the water flow, officials said.

In an update issued 6 a.m., the NDCC said the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan started releasing water at a rate of 439.9 cubic meters per second, while the Magat Dam in Isabela released water at a rate of 359 cubic meters per second.

The Ambuklao and Binga dams, meanwhile, released water at a rate of 117 cubic meters and 195 cubic meters per second, respectively.

The Angat Dam in Bulacan also released water at around 6 a.m., followed by the Pantabangan Dam an hour later.

The excess water from the two dams would likely affect the Bulacan towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan, Plaridel, and Hagonoy.

The Armed Forces gave assurance that they have troops pre-positioned in areas that are likely to be affected by the release of dam water, particularly in Pangasinan and Benguet, should there be a need for the pre-emptive evacuation of residents.

At the same time, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces spokesman, said troops would be pulled out from Mindanao for rehabilitation efforts in northern Luzon in the aftermath of typhoon “Pepeng.”

During a meeting with government officials in Pangasinan, President Arroyo ordered the pullout so military personnel could join the rehabilitation efforts in northern and central Luzon. – George Trillo with DB