Magat Dam is not ‘damned’

If you think the opening of the gates of Magat Dam is to be blamed for the
massive flood in Cagayan and Isabela, think again.

The Philippines’ 21st tropical cyclone hit the hardest from November 11 to 12.
During the landfall of the typhoon, it was broadcasted that Magat Dam has been
releasing thousands of water equivalent to two swimming pools per second. That is
why, some blame the dam because according to the notions circulating, Cagayan
and Isabela would not have been submerged by the flood if the dam did not release
such amount of water. Thus, pertaining to the dam as the reason why the two
provinces were immersed in the flood.

As early as November 8, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and

Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) gave warning signals and
information about the speed, amount of rain, and direction of Typhoon Ulysses.

However, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) opened only a one-

meter gate, three days before the typhoon made its landfall. According to Mahar
Lagmay, the executive director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience
Institute, since the amount of rain brought by the typhoon has already been
forecasted, NIA “lacks anticipation” and should have released more water gradually
overtime before the landfall.

In defense of the administrator of NIA, Ricardo Visaya, they just followed the
“protocols to the letter”. Lagmay then responded on a separate interview that the
protocols should be enhanced as it has lapsed.

While this may be true, Magat Dam should not be tagged as the main cause
of the flood because its function is to manage the water level in the dam and not to
prevent floods outside its vicinity. In contrast, the dam protected the residents lying
on low areas by avoiding the dam from collapsing and causing worse damage such
as massive force brought by the pressure of the water, and loss of management of
the water in the reservoir that could cause massive flash floods.

Though further study needs to be done for the Magat Dam and NIA to prove
its innocence. Illegal mining and logging in the region as well as deforestation adds
up to the multiplicity of factor that resulted to the submerged region during the
landfall as the said factor results to soil erosion that lessen the soil compact,
destroy soil structure, and promotes runoff.

NIA may have contributed due to the lapses it has in anticipating the impact
of the amount of rain brought by Typhoon Ulysses however, it is not the main
reason as to why the region was engulfed, it is the lack of trees and watersheds
that should be addressed. Given the geographical location of the Philippines,
typhoons among other natural disasters are common and should have been given
enough preparation and attention beforehand. Projects by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) such as the intensified forest protection
and anti-illegal logging, among others should be endorsed and promoted to prevent
history from repeating itself.

While this may be true,