MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the round-the-clock monitoring of Magat Dam in Isabela and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija amid persistent heavy rainfall to ensure their structural integrity.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President directed concerned agencies to closely monitor the dams’ water levels to ensure the safety of downstream communities.
During during a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Castro said that according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) "no spillway gates were open at either dam, and no spillway discharge had been recorded."
Speaking in Filipino, Castro said the public can rest assured that the NIA's monitoring of dam water levels was ongoing despite the successive rains.
The NIA reported that Magat Dam’s water level stood at 178.27 meters above sea level (masl), while Pantabangan Dam registered 187.72 meters above sea level, which are still within normal levels.
Magat Dam's normal high water level is 190 masl, while Pantabangan Dam's is 216 masl.
The Palace press officer said that NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen also reported no widespread damage to rice crops despite the continuing rains.
She noted that the rainfall has also benefited the agriculture sector by improving water availability for irrigation, particularly in areas previously affected by El Niño.
The NIA said Magat Dam has the capacity to irrigate about 90,000 hectares, while Pantabangan Dam could provide irrigation to around 100,000 hectares.
