RESIDENTS of the submerged localities in Cagayan province have been previously informed about the release of water from Magat Dam amid the heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Ulysses last week, says President Rodrigo Duterte who hinted a major catastrophe had the dam operators opted not to.
In a television interview, Duterte hinted on the Magat Dam’s operational protocol which prevents them from releasing water without prior notice because of the imminent damages to nearby areas.
“Naabisuhan ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan basta-basta magbitaw kasi kapag mag-overflow, kapag nagkalat ‘yan, total damage,” said Duterte, who was interviewed while he was in Cagayan last Sunday to assess the post-Ulysses situation in the heavily battered areas in Cagayan.
National Irrigation Administration chief Ricardo Visaya for his part said: “Ang laki ng ating reservoir ng Magat [Dam] is about 4,800 hectares. ‘Pag ito ang na-break, lumampas sa spilling level na 193 meters above mean sea level, mag-spill po ‘yan. Masisira po ‘yan at milyon-milyon po na tao ang maaapektuhan.”
Magat Dam operators opened up seven gates on Nov. 12 and released water volume equivalent to 106.223 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or around two swimming pools per second.
The President earlier hinted on two factors that significantly contributed to the massive flooding in the province — the volume of rainfall and mining.
“Some of those who died were living under ‘yung mga lupa close to the mining,” he said.
Relatedly, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the residents living near the Cagayan River were notified about the release of water in Magat Dam ahead of time.On November 9, the National Irrigation Administration – Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) posted the advisory to concerned residents through its Facebook page.
The post included letters sent to concerned officials such as Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III, and Office of Civil Defense Region 2 acting director Harold Cabreros.
In the letter, NIA-MRIIS sought assistance from their offices.
Duterte said the release of water from dams is necessary to avoid “catastrophe.”“It’s a dam, you have to release it. Otherwise, you’ll have a catastrophe,” he said in a briefing in Camarines Sur on Sunday.
“Every dam in this world, pagkapuno na ‘yung tubig, ni-re-release talaga ‘yan. Otherwise, magkalat ‘yan. ‘Pag nasira, you have a catastrophe in your hands,” he added.
Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, said the simultaneous opening of gates by dam administrators during Typhoon Ulysses should be investigated “to prevent it from happening again.”