Prevailing monsoon rains have slightly increased Angat Dam’s critically low water level after having fallen consistently since the prevalence of the El Niño early this year.
Based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, the water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan rose to 158.64 meters yesterday, or 0.68 meters higher than the 157.96 meters last Saturday.
However, it is still lower than the 160-meter critical level for domestic water supply.
The National Water Resources Board is optimistic that the Angat watershed will continue to benefit from the monsoon rains in the coming days.
Before noon yesterday, PAGASA said tropical depression “Egay,” which intensified from a low pressure area last Saturday night, was 585 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
It is moving at 20 kilometers per hour northwest and may not make landfall over the Philippines.
However, Egay will enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” that will bring monsoon rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Palawan, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, and Aklan.
Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
PAGASA advised residents in these areas, especially those living in areas identified to be at high risk of flooding and landslides, to continue monitoring official PAGASA updates.
It also asked the public to take precautionary measures and coordinate with their local government and disaster risk reduction and management offices. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
