Despite rains, Angat water remains low, nears critical level

MALOLOS CITY—Water elevation at the Angat Dam has remained low and nearing critical level despite rains brought by successive typhoons that hit the country.

This developed as the Pampanga River Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (PRFFWC) advised Bulacan and Pampanga residents living in low-lying areas to be on alert for possible flooding as typhoon Dindo is expected to bring more rains.

Records obtained by Punto from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that water elevation at the Angat Dam dropped to 186.51 meters above sea level (masl) yesterday morning from 186.84 masl recorded on Wednesday.

The said water elevation is just six meters above the 180 masl critical level.

Liz Mungcal, head of the Bulacan PDRRMO said typhoons Butchoy and Dindo brought minimal rainfall in the eastern part of the province were the dam is located.

She said that despite the low water elevation there is nothing to worry about as more rains are expected in the coming days.

“Typhoon season na, kaya anytime ay madadagdagan ang tubig sa dam dahil madalas na ang pag-ulan,” she said.

Located on the hills of Sierra Madre in Norzagaray town, Angat Dam supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water requirement.

As this developed, the PRFFWC warned residents living on low lying areas and river banks in Bulacan and Pampanga to be on alert for possible flood.

Based on PRFFWC forecast issued at 9 a.m. yesterday, they expect 40 to 60 millimetres of rainfall in the next 24 hours.

In the previous 24 hours before the forecast, the PRFFWC recorded a 30 millimetres of rainfall from their rain gauge stations.

Watercourses likely to be affected by the possible rainfall are the tributaries of the Rio Chico River, the Candaba Swamp, the lower main of the Pampanga River and the tributaries of the Angat River in Bulacan.

The PRFFWC also warned residents living in high-tide-affected areas.

Repair aging dams in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado called for immediate repair of ageing dams in Bulacan as the government prepare to opening bidding for the rehabilitation of the giant Angat Dam next month.

As this developed, the National Power Corporation (Napocor) reiterated that Angat Dam is strong and can withstand magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

In his weekly program aired over DWSS Radio, Alvarado said that rubber gates at Bustos Dam are old and needs to be replaced.

“I will raise that concern in our next RDC meeting,” he said referring to the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC) chaired by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga.

Alvarado said that they will ask officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to present current status of the dam located along the Angat River in between the towns of Bustos and San Rafael, Bulacan.

NIA operates and manages Bustos Dam to distribute water for irrigation needs of Bulacan and Pampanga farmers.

Earlier, Engineer Felix Robles said that fishing, dipping and swimming on the  apron of Bustos Dam is no longer allowed.

The warning came after he disclosed that rubber gates of the dam is nearing the end of its lifespan.

As an officer in charge of NIA’s Water Control and Coordinating Unit (WCCU), Robles recounted that a similar rubber gate of a dam in Florida in the United States burst recently leading to rapid outflow of water from the reservoir.

“The lifespan of a rubber gate is 14 to 15 years, and it could be shorter like the one in Florida defending on the weather condition,” he said noting that rubber gates installed at Bustos Dam is as old as the one that burst in Florida.

Since rubber gates of Bustos Dam are nearing the end of its lifespan, Robles said they cannot ascertain its safety, and must be replaced immediately.

He advised local residents to stop fishing on the dam’s apron, while warning local tourists from dipping and swimming at the downstream of the dam.

“Its can burst anytime, and when deflated, water will rush downstream to the apron,” he said and added that every year they conduct repair on the cracks on the rubber gate by vulcanizing it.

Meanwhile, Engineer Rodolfo German of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant of the Napocor said that bidding to rehabilitate Angat Dam is set to proceed next month.

But he also commented on news reports that Angat Dam have cracks.

“That’s impossible, Angat dam dykes are not concrete. They are rock and earth-filled with earthen core,” said German.

He reiterated that there is no crack on the dam structures noting that as a rock and earth-filled dam, it naturally heals in case of earth movement caused by earthquakes.

German added that dam structures were built to stand a magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

With regards to siltation on dam’s reservoir, he said that Angat Dam will last for another 60 years.

At present the dam is already 43 years old and another 60 years means that it will last for 100 years.

According to German, the power tunnel of the dam is 50 meter above the bedrock of the dam.

“It will take another 60 years before it will be covered by silt,” he said.

German said that silt on the dam’s bedrock accumulates at an average of half meter every year.

At present, he estimated that there is about 20 meters deep silt on top of the dam’s reservoir bedrock.  (Dino Balabo)

Unsolicited advice for JBC in choosing next CJ

MALOLOS CITY—A 91-year old lawyer here laid out three characteristics for the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

This came as nomination for the said position started to pile up at the Judicial Bar Council (JBC).

Former Bulacan Governor Tomas Martin, a practicing lawyer in the last 63 years said the next Chief Justice must not be beholden to politicians, must be close to the people, and must be know the law.

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Gawad Bunying Abogadong Bulakenyo of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Bulacan Chapter, Martin said the highest magistrate of the country must be independent.

“He cannot be dictated by politicians, at hindi dapat dumikit sa mga pulitiko,” the former governor said.

He also advised magistrares including the next Chief Justice to be always in touch with the people.

“They must know the pulse of the people, hindi dapat mysterious ang dating nila para di paghinalaan ng taumbayan,” he said noting that many lawyers who were promoted to position of judges appear to have withdraw themselves from the people.

With regards to knowledge of the law, Martin said that as a lawyer, a candidate for the position of the Chief Justice knows the law, but he said the chief magistrate must be well rounded and well versed.

“We cannot have an specialist, dapat ay all angle ng batas ay alam niya,” said Martin who served as governor of the Bulacan in the late 50s to early 60s.

A practicing lawyer in the last 63 years, Martin was awarded by IBP-Bulacan on Thursday night along with 34 other lawyers who has been practicing law in the last 50 years.

Other notable “golden lawyers” awarded by IBP-Bulacan are retired Court of Appeals Justice Jose Dela Rama Sr.(1953), Lawyers Rachel Fidelino who started practicing law in 1947, Arturo Marin (1949), Sixto Antonio (1954), Marcelo Aure, Dolores Dela Rama, Jesus Santos,  and Mario Santos who are all started practicing law in 1955.

IBP-Bulacan also gave recognition to Supreme Court Associate Justice Estela Perlas, Bernabe, and newly appointed Court of Appeals Justice Renato Francisco.

Newly appointed Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges were also given recognition, namely Judges Sita Jose-Clemente (Branch 16), Grave V. Ruiz (Branch 22), Lisa Marie Piacrdal-Tecson of Makati-RTC Branch 144, and Andres B. Soriano of Malolos RTC who was transferred to Makati-RTC.

IBP-Bulacan also inducted 35 new members led by Rauol Angelo Atadero and Eireene Xena Acosta who placed first and seventh in the recent bar examinations.

Atadero hailed from Meycauayan City, while Acosta came from the City of San Jose Del Monte.  (Dino Balabo)