TUGUEGARAO CITY: Five spill gates of Magat Dam were opened Monday noontime, with the total opening at 9 meters, resulting in a spillway discharge of 1,720.00 cubic meters per second (m3/s). Two more spill gates will be opened until 5 p.m. The dam’s reservoir elevation as of noon was 192.15 meters above sea level (MASL), almost near the 193 MASL normal water level.

According to Philippines News Agency, the total discharge to the river as of posting time was 1,767.99 m3/s, the social media post of the National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System’s (NIA-MARIIS) Flood Forecasting and Warning System Dam Operation said. NIA-MARIIS operates Magat Dam, located between Alfonso Lista in Ifugao province and Ramon, Isabela. Carlos Ablan, Magat Dam flood operation manager, stated that the opening of the dam’s spillway gates was increased in anticipation of heavy inflow due to the after-effects of Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi).

At least five gates were gradually opened with two
meters each for a total discharge of 1,961 cubic meters per second as of 1 p.m. Residents living near water tributaries over Northern Luzon are warned to prepare for more flooding after the release of excess water. As of 1 p.m., the Buntun Bridge in the Tuguegarao City part already exceeded the 8-meter warning level after it rose to 9.6 meters.

The Tuguegarao City Command Center, in a social media post, announced that the Capatan Overflow Bridge is impassable as of 1 p.m. Roads that are impassable include several portions of Pinacanauan Avenue such as the overflow crossing, Riverpark, Riverbank, and Centro A; and Aguinaldo Extension, Macapagal Crossing, Gomez Extension, and Gonzaga Street.

Mayor Maila Ting-Que, in a social media live post, urged residents to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures. ‘Mas mabuting handa, kesa maging pabaya (It’s better to be prepared than to be negligent),’ she said, assuring residents that more evacuation centers are being opened and prepositioned government vehicles
are on standby. Que suspended work in government offices effective noontime, while work in private offices is left to the discretion of employers.