Four Luzon Dams Open Gates Amid Continuing Southwest Monsoon Rains

In response to ongoing Southwest Monsoon rainfall, four major dams in Luzon opened some of their gates on Sunday to regulate water levels, according to data from PAGASA.

At Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, one gate was opened to 0.15 meters, discharging water at a rate of 33 cubic meters per second (cms). The reservoir water level (RWL) stood at 100.41 meters, approaching the spilling threshold of 101.10 meters.

In Benguet, Ambuklao Dam had two gates open to 1.0 meter each, releasing water at 191.20 cms. Its RWL was recorded at 751.24 meters, nearing the normal high water level (NHWL) of 752 meters. Similarly, Binga Dam, also in Benguet, opened two gates at 1.0 meter, discharging 211.51 cms. Its RWL was at 574.10 meters, just below the NHWL of 575 meters.

Further north, Magat Dam, straddling Isabela and Ifugao provinces, opened two gates to 3.0 meters, releasing water at 656.39 cms. Its reservoir level was measured at 185.84 meters, not far from the NHWL of 190 meters.

PAGASA forecasts that the Southwest Monsoon will continue to affect several parts of the country. Regions such as Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro may experience intermittent rains, with moderate to heavy showers that could trigger flooding or landslides.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, other parts of the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and MIMAROPA might expect cloudy conditions with scattered rain and thunderstorms. The agency warned that flash floods and landslides remain a risk due to the persistent heavy rainfall.