DAM IF YOU DO, DAM IF YOU DON’T
by Anton Antonio
May 27, 2015
The Philippine Star news agency
came up with a news item on the worrisome water level at the Angat Dam. The article reads:
“MANILA, Philippines
- The water level of Angat Dam in Bulacan yesterday fell below the 180-meter
critical level for irrigation, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. PAGASA said the dam’s water level further
dropped to 179.98 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday from 180.2 meters on Monday. Once the water reaches critical level, the
protocol is to immediately cut the supply for irrigation and if the water
continues to recede, the supply for electric power plants. The priority is the domestic consumption in
Metro Manila, according to PAGASA. Angat Dam
supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, mostly for domestic use,
and irrigation of 27,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga. It can supply Metro Manila households even if
the water level dips to 170 meters, the National Power Corp., operator of the
Angat Dam, said. Maximo Peralta,
officer-in-charge of PAGASA’s Hydrometeorology Division, earlier
said Angat Dam’s level may continue to decline if the dry season extends
until June or mid-July due to the mild El Niño phenomenon. “If it does not rain until July or August,
the worst-case scenario is that Angat Dam’s water level could drop to 160
meters,” he said.” (http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/27/1459177/water-angat-dam-falls-below-critical-level)
In an earlier blog (http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-water-problem-of-cebu-part-2.html)
several causes of water supply shortage in Cebu province were mentioned which
could be considered a microcosm (meaning:
a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature
the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger) of the
Philippine condition. Yes, drought and
water supply problems are presently being experienced in the entire Philippine
Archipelago. There is, however, a
protocol (meaning: the official procedure or
system of rules) being followed by agencies such as the National Power Corp.
and PAGASA’s Hydrometeorology Division.
The protocol is to cut-off water supply to irrigation systems (first),
then electric power plants (second).
There
really is no problem with the water supply protocol. We have to take note, however, of the
protocol’s dire effects: (1) Rice
production will seriously be compromised; and, (2) Electric power will have to
be distributed which will affect industries… plus the many other related water
and power problems that may happen.
Having
stated all these, let us go to the root cause of our water shortage
problem. Global warming and climate
change has toyed around with our traditional weather systems which has somehow
moved and prolonged the dry season.
Allow me to mention that climate change is basically of anthropogenic
(meaning: man-made) origins. Again, the
water supply protocol is fairly acceptable… it’s also an annoying case of
“dam(n) if you do, dam(n) if you don’t”.
Just my
little thoughts…
(Please
visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/)
REFERENCE:
Antonio, A. C. (2015). “The Water
Problem of Cebu (part 2)”. Retrieved on
May 27, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-water-problem-of-cebu-part-2.html
Philippine Star (2015). “Water
Angat Dam Falls Below Critical Level”.
Retrieved on May 27, 2015 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/27/1459177/water-angat-dam-falls-below-critical-level
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