The San Roque Dam here has resumed operation as its water level is now above the critical low level following the monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Fabian experienced in Pangasinan in past days.
Engr. Cipriano Yabut, chief of the Agno-Sinocalan and San Fabian River Irrigation System, said the dam’s level is now at 232.4 meters above sea level (masl) as against its critical level of 225 masl.
“The water level of the dam will continue to increase as the Binga and Ambuklao dams discharge waters that overflow to the San Roque dam,” he said in an interview on Monday.
Yabut, however, clarified that San Roque is presently releasing at a contracted capacity to the irrigation systems in the province.
“The dam is releasing at a contracted capacity or half of our requirement in the irrigation since it is still raining in most areas of the province. But when the rains are gone, we will be asking San Roque for the full requirement in the irrigation,” he said.
He added some low-lying fields were submerged in waters due to the monsoon rains.
In the initial report of the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, these areas are in the towns of Binalonan, Pozorrubio, and Urdaneta City.
Yabut said the affected crops were most likely insured under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
San Roque Dam halted its operation on July 16 this year as it hit the critical low water level at 225 masl to maintain the reservoir and keep its turbines running as well as prevent damage to the facility.
There are 32,500 hectares of land in the province being irrigated by the San Roque Dam.
Source: Philippines News Agency