Angat Dam nearing critical level

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June 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MALOLOS , Philippines — Heavy rainfall associated with the southwest monsoon and the start of rainy season in the past few days failed to stop from receding the water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan.

Data released by the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office showed that as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the dam’s elevation was 169.88 meters, or just 9.88 above its critical level of 160 meters.

The elevation was 10.12 meters below Angat’s minimum operating level of 180, or 42.12 meters below its normal high water level.

Meanwhile, the threat of El Niño may delay the scheduled release of irrigation water to rice farms in Central Luzon, particularly in  Bulacan and Pampanga, according to Enrique Carlos, chief of the office of the National Irrigation Administration in Bulacan.

Carlos said the wet cropping season this year may be adjusted from July 15 to Aug. 15 due to low water level in Angat Dam.

Angat supplies more than 90 percent of the potable water needs of Metro Manila households.

It provides water to nearby Bustos Dam, which  irrigates up to 25,000 hectares of palay farms in Central Luzon, considered as the country’s rice bowl.

Angat also supplies water for hydro power plants of the Luzon grid.