‘COMFORTABLE’ WATER LEVEL. The water level of Angat Dam in Bulacan reaches a safer level on Monday (Oct. 31, 2022) due to the rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. As of 11 a.m., Angat Dam's water elevation was at 197.48 meters, which is 17.48 meters above its critical level of 180 meters. (PNA file photo)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – Severe Tropical Storm Paeng left this province with one fatality while damage to agricultural crops was initially estimated at PHP15 million.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO)-Bulacan head Liz Mungcal identified the victim as Leo Chaves of Barangay San Roque, City of San Jose del Monte, who drowned at the height of the storm.
Chaves was reportedly missing since 1 p.m. on Saturday and his body was retrieved along the Santa Maria River system in Barangay Santo Cristo, City of San Jose Del Monte around 6 a.m. Sunday.
Mungcal said Paeng damaged over 730 hectares of agricultural areas in the province, affecting some 795 farmers and fishermen.
She said the affected commodities include rice, vegetables and fisheries.
Meanwhile, rains induced by Paeng raised the water elevation of Angat Dam to a more comfortable level on Monday.
Mungcal said the water elevation of Angat Dam was at 197.48 meters as of 11 a.m.
"Angat Dam's water elevation on Monday was 17.84 meters above its critical level of 180 meters but still 14.16 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters," Mungcal said in an interview.
She said the end-of-the-year water elevation of Angat Dam should reach 212 meters for assured potable water requirements for Metro Manila and irrigation supply to Bulacan and parts of Pampanga farmlands during the summer months.
“Angat Dam not only supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila's potable water needs but also contributes hydroelectric power supply to the Luzon Grid and provides irrigation water to irrigated rice lands in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga,” she added.
Likewise, Mungcal said the preemptive release of water at Bustos Dam has stopped after its water elevation receded to 16.88 meters. (PNA)
