LINGAYEN–After the costly lessons served by the October 9 deluge, the National Power Corp. (Napocor) adopted new protocols for the release of water from the San Roque Dam.

The amended interim protocol was made two weeks after 34 towns and cities of Pangasinan were submerged, most of which by water released from the San Roque Dam at the height of Typhoon “Pepeng”.

Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council chief Paterno Orduña said Napocor forwarded a copy of the protocol to his office on Oct. 21 for dissemination to all local government units in Pangasinan.

Expressing an optimism that what happened in the province has served a lesson to all, Orduña said the interim protocol is a welcome development, providing better guidelines for water releases not only for the operators of the San Roque Dam but for other dams as well.

The amended rules are now in effect and the official protocol will be released next month after further consultation between NPC and other government agencies.

The new features of the amended protocol include the “water flood operation rule” (water releases). It will now be the policy to lower the water level of the San Roque dam by two meters, from 280 MASL (meters above sea level) to 278 MASL in order to increase the flood control mitigation/function of the dam.

Once the water level reaches 278 MASL, pre-spilling at 500 cubic meters per second (cms) will be started with continuous monitoring of water inflow, level of rainfall and path of typhoon.

The Municipal Disaster and Coordinating Council of towns are also advised to monitor the level of river swells during pre-spilling and provide feedback to NPC.

If water level continues to rise despite releases at 500 cms, proportionate increases in the rate of water spill will be applied, taking into consideration the rate of inflow going to the dam and the level of the Agno River downstream.

Napocor will now issue a general warning six hours prior to the release of water to be sent to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) and LGUs (Local Government Units) using all available means of communication.

A flood bulletin will also be issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Agency (PAGASA), six hours prior, to be sent to NDCC, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), PDCC and national media.

Updates on the status of the dams will be sent to the agencies concerned every two hours before actual event is to take place while the PDCC and MDCC should have identified evacuation centers so people will know where to go in case evacuation is needed.

In addition, National Power Mobile Warning Patrol Units will be assisted/supported by the local police in disseminating the warning release to the general public and the barangay heads.

NPC and PAGASA will also issue the clearance for the termination of the spilling or pre-spilling.

Immediately after, the respective MDCCs are expected to declare when it is safe for the residents to go back to their respective homes, upon validation with the NDCC and MDCC.

Information contained in the warning communication will now include the time and date of spilling/pre-spilling, number of gates to be opened and height of opening, volume of water to be discharged, dam level, target dam level and estimated length of time needed to reach target level.

Continuous monitoring of water levels downstream will be done by the MDCC, data for which should be submitted to the dam operator.  If the MDCC is not capable to do it, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) or the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB) should be tapped.—LM

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