Pantabangan water reserve decreased

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija - The historic release of water from the mammoth reservoir started on Tuesday as typhoon “Queenie” brought its water elevation to 220.78 meters as of Monday, closely nearing the spilling level of 221 m.

But authorities were quick to allay fears of flashfloods noting that the release is being made during the normalcy of weather and under controlled situation even as their men in the field closely monitor its effect on plants and crops for immediate adjustment.

Engr. Freddie Toquero of the Pantabangan forecasting division, said the water is released at the rate of 135 cubic meters per second in addition to the regular release of 65 cms power generation allocation.

The water, he said, will go to rivers downstream of Pantabangan, from the town of Rizal through Bongabon, Palayan City, Cabanatuan City, Sta. Rosa to the upper Pampang river. The release, he said, will be gradual for at least one week until the elevation level is down to 219. The inflow is currently at about 170 cms, he noted.

Engr. Antonio Nangel, operations manager of the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Project which operates the dam, said the activity is a matter of preparing the dam for possible heavy inflow of more water when another typhoon comes.

“The release was not that strong,” Nangel said. “Kailangang magbawas tayo hanggang maabot ang 219 m para safe kung may dumating na bagyo,” he added, saying the release could even be increased to 300 cms should safety warrants.

Besides the normal water inflow brought by rainfalls on dam areas, water from Casecnan and Taan rivers go into it through an underground tunnel built under the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power project which is aimed at improving the irrigation and power capacity of the Pantabangan facilities.

Presidential Assistant for North Luzon Renato Diaz also allayed fears pointing the good news behind the increased water reserve. “The release will be controlled and well-supervised while the good thing is that our farmers are assured of enough water for the coming dry crop season,” he said.