Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — Angat Dam’s water level has seen a slight increase since it dipped below its minimum operating level nearly a week ago due to rains brought by Tropical Depression Dodong, the state weather bureau said Friday.
While Dodong blows through Northern Luzon, it is enhancing the southwest monsoon or \”habagat,\” bringing strong bursts of winds and rainfall to other parts of Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The weather bureau noted in its 11 a.m. reading that the water level of Angat Dam, located in Bulacan, is at 178.09 meters.
The level is 7 centimeters higher than the 6 a.m. reading of 178.02 meters, PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said in a news conference. On Thursday, PAGASA reported the level was at 178.03 meters.
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LOOK: PAGASA shows the water level status of dams. Angat Dam is currently at 178.02 meters. pic.twitter.com/o0QC2hYCU2
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 14, 2023
[Translation: We are expecting that the water level of Angat Dam will increase for now because Wednesday's rainfall has yet to come down to the reservoir. The lag time from upstream to the reservoir is from 18 to 24 hours.]
Roy Badilla, PAGASA's hydro-meteorology division chief, said \"weak\" monsoon rains are expected until the weekend over the Angat watershed.
\"We are expecting na tataas pa ang ating water level sa Angat [Dam] pero hindi naman ito gaano kalaki [the water level of Angat will rise but it will not be significant],\" Badilla added.
Angat's water level started to drop below its minimum operating depth of 180 meters on July 8.
PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez earlier told CNN Philippines monsoon rains are not enough to replenish the water in the dam.
Orendain told reporters it would need four to five storms to move across the Angat watershed to recharge the dam to its 210 meter-spilling level. He cautioned that once the rains end, the water level might decline anew.
Isabela records no impact from 'Dodong' landfall
Dodong made landfall early Friday morning in Dinapigue, Isabela, according to state meteorologists.
\"Hindi naman po ganoong kalakasan [ang ulan],\" Constance Foronda, head of Isabela Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told CNN Philippines' Balitaan.
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Foronda says the electricity and communication lines are also working despite the rain.
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— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 14, 2023
[Translation: The rain was not that strong. It was a blessing because we need the rainfall for our farms and the water level of Magat Dam was low.]
In the press conference, PAGASA officer-in-charge Esperanza Cayanan said Northern Luzon had arid conditions in the past weeks due to lack of rain.
\"Welcome 'yong ulan don sa area,\" Cayanan said. \"Nakikita natin na kumbaga kahit may medyo moderate to heavy rainfall ay tigang 'yong lupa, so nasisipsip pa ng lupa 'yong tubig-ulan.\"
[Translation: The rain was welcomed in the area. We see that even if there will be possible moderate to heavy rainfall, the land is dry so it can still sip the rainfall.]
