March 10, 2022, 1:47 PM

As the National Irrigation Administration instructed the farmers serviced by the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) to adapt the adjusted cropping calendar, the dropping of the water level of Angat Dam which allocates water for irrigation to Bulacan and Pampanga farmlands poses no threat to the farmers.

This is mentioned by Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector in a TV Program interview conducted by Net 25 – Mata ng Agila on February 28, 2022.

On the day of the interview, the water level of Angat Dam is at 196.29 masl, almost 16 meters lower than its normal water level of 212 masl. At the start of the month of February, the water level of the dam has been below normal, thus reducing its water allocation for irrigation.

However, DA Sulaik said that this does not greatly affect the farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga benefitting from Angat Dam because their farmlands are already in its terminal drainage wherein water requirement is less. In the months of March and April, only 5 m³/s is necessary to complete the remaining irrigation requirement for AMRIS.

DA Sulaik shared that NIA has already conducted coordination meeting with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) on the conduct of cloud seeding over the reservoir which is scheduled on March 8, 2022.

Closing the interview, DA Sulaik said, “Ang atin pong mga ginagawang preventive maintenance ng ating mga irrigation facilities, ‘yung ating pagpapatupad ng early planting at ‘yun pong tinatawag nating water delivery na kailangang sundin po ng ating mga magsasaka upang hindi po tayo nagkakaroon ng problema dun sa ating mga requirement sa ating mga palayan. Dahil kung wala pong magandang coordination on the water delivery, ito po yung nagdudulot ng problema sa ating magsasaka kapag kanya-kanya po yung ating pagsasagawa ng pagpapatubig."