THREE lawmakers are pushing for the approval of a House measure seeking to create a Philippine Dam Authority.

Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, AGHAM party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones and Cagayan Rep. Randolf Ting said that there is a need to have better management and systematic release of reservoir water to avoid loss of lives and property

Under House Bill 5402, the Philippine Dam Authority is mandated 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and warning of impending discharge of dam water, improve its manpower for a better delivery of services and review outdated and inefficient flood-control protocols.

Reports said that typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel”  damaged infrastructure and agriculture amounting to P9.5 billion and death toll was placed at 82 with 45 missing persons.

Palmones said these were all brought on by flood waters and triggered inflow of water into dams in Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque. San Roque dam received overflows than the two other dams which brought the level of water in the reservoir beyond its Normal High Water Level of 280m Mean Sea Level  and into the Maximum Surcharge Water Level  of 290m AMSL.

“When this water level is exceeded, the spillway gates are opened to maintain 290m 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.

Cojuangco said that 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 in 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 added.

Ting said that some environment activist groups have blamed the government  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 in the government’s 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.
Jester Manalastas