MANILA: President Rodrigo Duterte said concerned residents were informed about the release of water from Magat Dam amid the heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Ulysses (International name Vamco) last week.
Duterte pointed out that the dam cannot just release water considering that it may cause damage to nearby areas.
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This was echoed by National Irrigation Administration chief Ricardo Visaya on Monday.
Magat Dam had seven gates open at one point on Nov. 12 and released water volume equivalent to 106.223 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or around two swimming pools per second.
For Duterte, the volume of rainfall was one of the causes of the flooding in Cagayan. Aside from this, he also blamed mining.
“Some of those who died were living under ‘yung mga lupa close to the mining,” he said.
According to Pagasa, the residents living near the Cagayan River were notified about the release of water in Magat Dam ahead of time.
Pagasa hydrologist Edgar dela Cruz said authorities went to the concerned areas to give the advisory.
On November 9, the National Irrigation Administration - Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) posted the advisory to concerned residents through its Facebook page.
The post included letters sent to concerned officials such as Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III, and Office of Civil Defense Region 2 acting director Harold Cabreros.
In the letter, NIA-MRIIS sought assistance from their offices.
After authorities in Marikina and Cagayan threatened to sue the Angat and Magat Dam administrators for the flooding, Duterte said the release of water from dams is necessary to avoid “catastrophe.”
“It’s a dam, you have to release it. Otherwise, you’ll have a catastrophe,” he said in a briefing in Camarines Sur on Sunday.
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