THE government is creating a safety committee that would oversee dam operators in controlling the opening of gates of dams during typhoons.
At the Laging Handa press briefing, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad said the final decision in releasing water from dams is still in the hands of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the dam managers.
“Nagkaroon ng desisyon sa NDRRMC na mag-create ng committee na tatawagin nating dam safety committee pero mayroon kasi tayong protocol base doon sa isang desisyon noong panahon ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ang magdecide talaga niyan ay ang PAGASA dahil sila ang nakakakita ng forecast ng malalakas na pag-ulan,” Jalad said.
“Puwede siguro i-create natin ‘yung committee as an oversight to the two agencies, PAGASA and dam managers, in preparing for the approach of the typhoon. But ang desisyon talaga is PAGASA and dam managers dahil sila ang nakakakita sa aktuwal na sitwasyon…” he explained.
Under this set-up, the NDRRMC will no longer be part of deciding whether or not to release water from dams during storms.
“Kung ilalagay natin ‘yan sa NDRRMC, alam naman natin mayroon tayong konseho na maguusap ‘yan, magkakaroon ng consensus, baka tumagal ‘yung desisyon natin, hindi tayo makapagpalabas agad ng tubig,” Jalad said.