MANILA, Philippines - Six dams in Luzon continued to release water yesterday even as the weather bureau again raised storm warning signal no. 3 over Cagayan and Isabela as typhoon “Quiel” gained strength and moved toward Northern Luzon.
Quiel moves closer to the Philippine area of responsibility while many parts of Luzon are still submerged in floodwaters in the aftermath of typhoon “Pedring,” even as the government is still reeling from the massive destruction to agriculture and infrastructure and loss of lives.
The National Disaster Risk Management and Coordinating Council (NDRRMC) explained yesterday that the opening of the floodgates of the country’s major dams in Luzon is necessary in order to prevent a major catastrophe.
Acknowledging that the current widespread flooding in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga has been a result of the opening of the spillway valves of the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija and Angat Dam in Norzaragay, Bulacan, NDRRMC chief Benito Ramos said these are precautionary measures to prevent the collapse of these huge water facilities.
In the event the Pantabangan Dam collapses, Ramos said the entire Nueva Ecija, parts of Pampanga, specifically Arayat, and nearby Bulacan will be wiped out.
Malacañang gave assurance that government agencies are being mobilized to address the concerns of the more than one million residents in these provinces, which are still submerged in floodwaters.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said he and local officials in Bulacan, including Gov. Wilfredo Alvarado, are planning to meet with the dam managements to establish coordinated efforts which might help minimize the cause of flooding, especially during typhoons.
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