NOV.

19, 2011 DATE

NR # 2592
REF. NO.

Lawmakers push for the creation of the Philippine Dam Authority

Lawmakers today urged Congress to fast track the approval of a measure establishing the proposed Philippine Dam Authority that would rationalize and unify the management of dams, put order and systematize the release of reservoir water and to avoid loss of lives and property. Rep. Angelo Palmones (Party-list, AGHAM), one of the authors of House Bill 5402, said the bill seeks to improve and strengthen the organization, responsible for the dissemination of information and warning of impending discharge of dam water, improve its manpower for a better delivery of its services to the nation and review outdated and inefficient flood-control protocols. Malacaang is reportedly considering the creation of the dam authority in charge of the release of water from the dams. Palmones said when typhoons Pedring and Quiel hit Central Luzon recently, the estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture was P9.5 billion and death toll was placed at 82 with 45 missing persons. Palmones said these were all brought by flood waters and triggered in-flow of water into dams in Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque. San Roque dam received over flows than the two other dams which brought the level of water in the reservoir beyond its Normal High Water Level (NHWL) of 280 m Mean Sea Level (AMS) and into the Maximum Surcharge Water Level (MSWL) of 290 m AMSL. When this water level is exceeded the spillway gates are opened to maintain 290 m AMSL, otherwise there is the possibility that the reservoir wall will be breached and the dam water will flow beyond control causing unimaginable damage downstream, Palmones explained. Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (5th District, Pangasinan), another author of the measure, said the actual level of the San Roque dam did not actually reach the MSWL of 290 m AMSL since even before the landfall of Pedring, the dam had been spilling water through its turbines. Cojuangco said with the eminent higher inflow of water into the dam the spillway gates were opened and the already high flood waters in most of Pangasinan further rose and was complicated by the high tide which prevented the flow of the water into the sea resulting to excessive flooding. While Pangasinan was reeling from the effects of flood waters, Bulacan towns were equally suffering from floods due to rains brought by typhoons Pedring and Quiel, Cojuangco said. Cojuangco said in both instances, there has been a lot of finger-pointing as to the parties responsible for the extensive flooding in Pangasinan and most of Central Luzon.

NOV. 19, 2011 DATE

NR # 2592
REF. NO.

The San Roque dam managers have been slammed for the untimely release of water from the dam while the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) criticized the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) for not allowing them to release water from the Angat Dam, which could have prevented heavy flooding in Bulacan during the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring, Cojuangco said. Rep. Randolph Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), co-author of the bill, said an environment activist group blamed the government for being irresponsible for not doing much to prevent flooding, knowing the impacts of climate change on the weather. The private group claimed that it is still the private corporations which decide when to release water from the dam. They said this very important function should be at the governments hands but because the large dams are privatized, the government could only monitor the dam water level and advice these corporations when to release water from the dam, Ting said. Ting said the local government of Bulacan blamed the massive floods on the release of water from Ipo, Angat and Bustos dams but NAPOCOR was quick to deny this and said that water coming from Nueva Ecija and Pampanga contributed to the rise in water level. Under the measure to be known as the Philippine Dam Authority Act of 2011, the PDA shall maintain proper operating conditions of all dams in the country establish and maintain in each of the dams a Flood Forecasting and Warning System Dam Office and determine the inflow of flood water into the dam. Under the bill, the Authority shall monitor the level of water in the dam and when a telemetered forecasting system is in place, coordinate with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in the monitoring of water level in the dam. It shall review and revise flood forecasting and warning systems protocol in all of the existing and future dams that will be subsequently established; issue flood warnings to concerned authorities in affected areas and issue warnings of impending opening of spillway gates when there is a need to open the same. The bill mandates the Department of National Defense in coordination with other government agencies concerned to issue the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. (30) lvc