22-07-2025
NIA: P339.3M agri damage from Crising, Habagat; many dams at spilling level
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) reported Tuesday that Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) have so far incurred P339.3 million worth of agricultural damage in the country.
Based on its partial report, NIA said the inclement weather affected the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems area, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, the Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.
The agency noted that a total of 31,172.23 hectares were impacted by the bad weather, which in turn affected 23,385 farmers.
Meanwhile, NIA also logged P866 million worth of infrastructure damage around the country.
Crising exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday.
Earlier today, PAGASA said the low pressure area located east of Aurora has turned into Tropical Depression Dante.
The state weather bureau is also monitoring two LPAs, one of which is located within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Dams situation
NIA also said a number of dams have reached their spilling level.
'Karamihan po ng ating dam dito sa Region III ay nasa spilling level (most of the dams in Region III are at spilling level),' Josephine Salazar, NIA deputy administrator for engineering operations, said during the Palace virtual press briefing.
NIA reported that Gumain Dam in Floridablanca, Pampanga is at 2.3 meters, higher than its 2.1 spilling level.
Meanwhile, the water level of Tarlac Diversion Dam rose to 6.5 meters, beyond its spilling level of 4.5 meters.
NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said the agency notifies residents two to three hours before it releases water from the dams.
"Mayroon pong protocol iyan na sinusundan natin with Angat and Ipo Dam. So, at least mga two to three hours alam na po nila," Guillen said in the same briefing.
(We're following a protocol with Angat and Ipo Dam. So, at least the residents were informed two to three hours before the water was released.)
He added NIA is using an "advanced weather forecasting system" that has artificial intelligence technology to predict when the water should be released.
"Two weeks nape-predict na po namin kung magrerelease kami ng tubig o hindi dito sa ating malalaking dam dito sa Magat and Pantabangan," Guillen said.
(We are able to forecast up to two weeks ahead whether we will release water from our major dams in Magat and Pantabangan.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
