Capitol seeks new protocol for San Roque Dam
LINGAYEN—As fear of heavy flooding again gripped Pangasinenses in recent weeks, the provincial government is taking the lead establishing a “firmer, improved and permanent” water release protocol for the San Roque Dam.
The new initiative developed when two of the dam’s gates were opened by up to 2.5 meters at the height of heavy monsoon rains two weeks ago, and continued when Typhoon “Helen” breezed through last week.
The proposed protocol being prepared by former Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco will go through immediate committee hearings and review by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan SP).
Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, SP presiding officer, gave the assurance that the provincial board will immediately act on the protocol after parallel committee hearings shall have been conducted by the provincial board in the coming days with the participation of all agencies directly to be affected.
The drafting of a new water release protocol was agreed upon during the out-of-town regular session last Monday of the SP at the San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) office in San Manuel, where Cojuangco was also present.
Calimlim explained that the out-of-town session was held purposely to conduct an on-site investigation and public hearing on the current protocol being followed by both the SRPC and the National Power Corporation (NPC) in discharging water from the dam during typhoons and heavy rains.
Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr last week again expressed concern for the safety of communities along the Agno River, especially those situated just below the San Roque Dam, including Rosales, which are the first ones to suffer in case of a sudden release of large volumes of water from the dam.
In that forum, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said that at the height of the recent monsoon rains, Espino was in constant communication with the management of the San Roque Dam to avert a possible repeat of the calamity at the height of Typhoon Pepeng in 2009.
“The governor was successful in keeping the NPC on its toes, ensuring that volume of water discharges were kept at manageable levels during typhoons,” Baraan said in a talk to newsmen later.
Espino earlier threatened to file legal charges against those managing the dam for delaying the release of water contrary to agreed protocols.
“The reason for this inquiry is because again that protocol was not followed and is apparently changed from time to time.” Calimlim said. “The one deciding (on water release) is not here but in Manila.… yet when there are questions from the affected residents, it’s the local government units and the people on the ground who have no control over the dam’s operation that are made to respond,” he pointed out.
In last year’s Typhoon Quiel that inundated Bulacan and Pampanga, the province of Pangasinan was spared because Espino prodded the NPC through SRPC Vice President Tom Valdez to undertake pre-emptive water discharges so a big flood can be avoided.
This was affirmed by Cojuangco when he thanked Espino for his support saying, “Without the governor’s help, I wouldn’t have gotten the support that I got from the national government since I was no longer a congressman then.”
LEGAL AND OFFICIAL
On the new water release protocol, Cojuangco stressed that a “legal and official document” must be set up and then presented to the national government for approval by the secretary of the Department of Energy and the Office of the President.
Cojuangco suggested that the unofficial document that was left unsigned during the 14th Congress for the protocol on water release be finally adopted “in order to have a legal order that would be officially serve as permanent protocol which would not be changed from time to time”.
Dr. Glen Tabios, director of the National Hydraulics Research Center at the University of the Philippines and current member of the National Water Research Board that was part of the investigating committee formed in 2009, said nothing was implemented from the committee’s 110-page report”.
AGNO PROJECT
Meanwhile, Engr. Edgardo Paragas, Project Manager of the Agno Flood Control Office in Tomana, Rosales said the flooding in Pangasinan could be further contained with the construction of Phase III of the Agno River Flood Control project.
Paragas explained that external funding for the third phase, which is estimated to cost about P6 billion, is still being sought by the national government.
Cojuangco, however, said the design or failure of Phase I of the project involving siltation must have contributed to the recent flooding in the lower downstream of the Agno River
“Either silted o mali ang design at kung ganito ang nangyari marapat lamang na iparating sa national government para ma-aksyonan nila,” hea dded.
For his part, Engr. Rosendo So, chair of the Abono Partylist, said that to avoid massive flooding like what happened three years ago, the outflow and inflow of water must not exceed 1,000 cubic meters per second.
NPC was represented in the forum by Virgilio Garcia, in charge of dam operation, who said that San Roque Dam is currently still releasing water with one gate open at 0.5 meters.
The forum was participated in by officials of San Manuel, San Nicolas, Asingan, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Alcala, Binalonan, Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Labrador, Lingayen, and San Carlos City, all in the downstream of the Agno River.—with reports from Eva Visperas and Johanne Margarette R. Macob
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