Water level at Ipo Dam now above spilling level, residents warned vs floods - NDRRMC

La Mesa dam after Pedring. FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE GUBAT

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

(UPDATE 4 - 4:09 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Residents around Ipo Dam in Bulacan are alerted against possible floods as dam administrators started releasing water from two of its gates after the water level at the reservoir went above its spilling level. 

The dam started releasing 48.5 cm of water at 7:40 a.m. through one of its gates, according to the  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The NDRRMC said that at 10 a.m., two gates had been opened after water levels at the dam reached 100.86 meters, past the spilling level of 100.50 meters. The two gates were opened at 0.6 meters releasing 109 cm of water. 

Although this has "minimal effect" to the rivers, the NDRMMC alerted residents in low-lying communities against possible floods.

Edgar Ollet, NDRRMC director for operations, said residents in the towns of Norzagaray, Pandi, Hagonoy, Malolos, Sta. Maria, Balagtas, Bocaue, and San Jose del Monte had been alerted as part of pre-cautionary measures.

Based on the NDRRMC's 6 a.m. update, water at Ipo Dam has already reached 100.82 meters.

Red alert in gateless La Mesa Dam 

Meanwhile, La Mesa Dam in Quezon City went on red alert on Tuesday due to incessant rains in the metropolis caused by a low pressure area.

Unlike bigger dams, La Mesa, which supplies drinking water to about 12 million residents of Metro Manila, does not have gates.

Excess water from the 700-hectare reservoir owned by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System spills into its floodway and flows to the Tullahan River north of Manila. 

La Mesa's water level was at 79.44 meters at 9 a.m. Tuesday, or less than a meter shy of its spilling level of 80.15 meters.

Meanwhile, four floodgates in the Rosario Junction floodway in the Pasig area were also opened on Tuesday, the council said. 

Also, water in the following rivers almost reached their critucal levels - Fort Santiago (11.55 meters); Pandacan (11.53 meters); Angono (11.37 meters); Montalban (22.44 meters); and Nangka (17.24 meters).

Spilling level of 12.85 meters has been reached in San Juan River. 

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said that as of 9:30 a.m., sea travel in the ports of Batangas and Dalahican and Real in Quezon had not yet been suspended but owners and captains of sea vessels were advised to take precautionary measures. - with reports from Joseph Ubalde, InterAksyon.com

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