ANGAT DAM’S water level moved up to 158.64 meters after months of decline due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

As of 6 a.m. Sunday, the water level in Angat dam rose 0.68 meters from 157.96 meters, based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, but this is still below the critical level of 160 meters.

PAG-ASA said that the increase was due to the southwest monsoon, which was enhanced by tropical depression Egay over the weekend.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-ulan… kasi noong previous dates, talagang lumiliit na ‘yung deficit n’ya… kaya talagang pataas na s’ya kasi tuloy-tuloy nga ang pag-ulan sa (There has been continuous rainfall… in the previous dates, the deficit has been getting smaller… it’s now going up due to continuous rain in the catchment ng Angat,” Jason Bausa, hydrologist from PAGASA, told BusinessWorld in a phone interview.

National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo D. David, Jr., said adjustments for water allocations are yet to be determined.

“No adjustments, yet. Level (is) still below critical level. Allocation is maintained at 36 cubic meters per second (CMS),” Mr. David told BusinessWorld in a text message when sought for comment.

“It will depend on the development on the level in Angat Dam, but first it must rise above the 160-meter elevation then we have to look at the climate projections,” he added.

The NWRB reduced water allocation during the month from 46 CMS to 40 CMS, then further to 36 CMS. The current water allocation amounts to 3.1 billion liters per day, which is 10 cubic meters short of the normal 46 cubic meters per second.

The decrease in water level persisted for months this year due to the dry spell that is still affecting the country and is expected to end by August this year, but may possibly continue until first quarter of 2020.

Rotational water interruptions are being implemented in the capital and neighboring areas. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

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