(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan and Magat dams in Luzon may be better off this year than in 2020.
There will likely be more water in said dams this year for their respective customers compared to 2020 when rainfall shortage significantly reduced these dams' inflow, noted Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Richard Orendain.
"The dams may not encounter the difficulty they faced last year in getting and supplying water," he said.
PAGASA reported 6 a.m. water levels in Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan and Magat dams on Thursday (April 29) at 199.93 meters, 234.88 meters, 192.96 meters, and 187.87 meters, respectively.
Orendain noted such water levels are still high, indicating the dams have sufficient water for their clients.
Nearing onset of the rainy season is also raising prospects for increased inflow and water in the dams, he continued.
PAGASA expects such onset to occur between mid-May and mid-June this year.
"It'll be a normal, not delayed, onset so the dams will likely begin receiving rain soon," he said.
Shortage of rainfall last year over watersheds where Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan and Magat dams have left these facilities struggling for water to supply its customers.
That shortage caused water levels there to dip last year to 176.20 meters on Sept. 15 (Angat), 230.07 meters on July 30 (San Roque), 175.86 meters on July 27 (Pantabangan), and 164.31 meters also on July 27 (Magat), PAGASA noted.
The weather bureau said such levels were the dams' lowest last year.
The dams began recovering and gaining water in late 2020 when tropical cyclones (TCs) successively hit the country.
"We're not expecting the dams to face similar difficulty this 2021, however," said Orendain.
He said for the May-October 2021 period, PAGASA forecast near- to above-normal rainfall over the dams' watersheds.
PAGASA also expects eight to 11 TCs entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility during such period.
Among rain-bearing weather systems that may affect the country then are TCs, southwest monsoon or "habagat", and low-pressure areas, PAGASA added. (PNA)
