DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) division manager Patrick James Dizon (standing far right) bares their various ongoing projects in Bulacan during a press conference at the Mariano Ponce Hall of Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan on Wednesday (June 19, 2019). During the event, the National Power Corporation allayed the fear of Bulakenyos of a possible dam break in case of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Bulacan)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- The National Power Corp. (NPC) has assured that Angat Dam can withstand a magnitude 7.2 earthquake following the completion of rehabilitation and strengthening works at the decades-old dam, which, experts said, is sitting along the West Valley fault line.
Wilfredo Senadrin, NPC principal engineer for dam management operations, said there is no need for Bulakenyos to worry about a dam break in case of a powerful tremor because the structural strengthening of the dam is already 100 percent complete.
“As of now, the tendency of a dam break is minimal. Angat Dam was strengthened based on a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. So, rest assured that we have nothing to worry about. In case the quake is stronger than magnitude 7.2, the dam will not be totally destroyed. It could only suffer deformation,” Senadrin said in Filipino during the "Talakayang Bulakenyo" press conference held at the Mariano Ponce Hall of the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here Wednesday.
He made it clear that the reported crack in Angat Dam is just a projection and was never confirmed, even by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System division manager Patrick James Dizon bared their ongoing projects in the province, among them the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project; the construction of Tunnels 4 and 5 from Ipo Dam to Barangay Bigte, Norzagaray; and the construction of an additional aqueduct from Bigte, Norzagaray to La Mesa Dam to replace the old and dilapidated Aqueducts 1 and 2.
“We are conducting a feasibility study on the construction of the Ipo Dam 3 project that is expected to catch the incremental flow of rainfall, excess releases for irrigation, and spills from Ipo Dam 2,” Dizon said.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Felicisima Mungcal said their office is fully equipped to respond during times of disasters and emergencies.
“We can proudly say that our responders in the province of Bulacan are equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude and appropriate equipment, tools, vehicles, and personal protective equipment to respond to emergencies. In fact, we (were) the first to respond at Chuzon Supermarket in Pampanga,” Mungcal said. (PNA)
