The National Water Resources Board will implement lower water allocation for the irrigation requirements of some farmlands in Central Luzon starting Dec. 1.
The NWRB is currently providing 17 cubic meters per second of irrigation water from Angat Dam to Bulacan and Pampanga. It will be reduced to five cms by Dec. 1.
NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the reduction in irrigation water may only bring minimal effect on farms in Bulacan and Pampanga as it is already harvesting season in these provinces.
Meanwhile, allocation for domestic water will remain at 40 cms, David pointed out.
He noted that NWRB is still managing water releases by not giving the normal allocation of 46 cms for domestic water requirements.
Angat Dam, which is the main source of 96 percent of Metro Manila’s domestic water requirements and irrigation of about 27,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga, remains below the 210-meter normal high water level.
Its water level was 187.98 meters yesterday, which is slightly higher than the 187.78 meters the other day.
To ensure that it can supply domestic, irrigation, and energy needs at least until the first half of 2020, Angat Dam has to reach the desired 210-meter to 212-meter level. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
