3 dams to terminate spilling operations soon

FILE: The Ambuklao Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant in Bokod, Benguet. (Photo: By Watersanitationandsupply/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet province and Ipo Dam in Bulacan province may already cease releasing excess water soon.

“It’s possible for those dams to end spilling operations either this week or next week,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Rosalie Pagulayan.

She noted a PAGASA forecast wherein generally fair weather is expected across Luzon in the days so the dams are unlikely to receive the rain that will again raise their respective water to levels to require continuous spilling operations.

“Spilling aims to ensure the flow of water into a dam won’t raise its contents to a dangerous level,” she said.

PAGASA weather forecaster Ariel Roxas on Tuesday said generally fair weather will prevail in Benguet and Bulacan until next week.

He said the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will bring to Benguet isolated light rains which won’t significantly affect the province.

Bulacan can experience generally warm and humid weather due to the easterlies as well as some thunderstorms, he continued.

PAGASA said the spilling operations in Ambuklao, Binga and Ipo dams were in progress as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Ambuklao and Binga still had two gates open each but at heights lower than Monday (Nov.

16), said Pagulayan.

She also said only one gate of Ipo remained open on Tuesday morning and also at a lower height.

“Those dams are already reducing spilling operations since water inflow there is becoming less,” she said.

Part of rain from the successive onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) and other tropical cyclones since October 2020 flowed into and significantly raised the water level in Ambuklao, Binga, and Ipo dams, prompting spilling operations there.

The same also raised the water level in Magat Dam.

Unlike Ambuklao, Binga, and Ipo dams, PAGASA data showed Magat sustained intensity of its spilling operation.

The data showed as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, one gate of Magat was open at a height of 2 meters.

Magat also had one gate open at the same height 24 hours earlier, the data showed further.