MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the preemptive release of water from Luzon dams Wednesday morning, October 23, as Tropical Storm Kristine threatens to bring torrential rainfall to northern Philippines.
“We have to watch this carefully because this is just the start of the rainfall,” Marcos said during an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
He noted that it would be prudent to release water early, even before reaching high levels, to create breathing room.
The state weather bureau PAGASA forecasts Kristine to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, bringing more than 200mm of rainfall to multiple regions.
Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Catanduanes, and both Camarines provinces are expected to experience intense to torrential rainfall Wednesday, with Pangasinan, Zambales, and La Union facing similar conditions Thursday.
“The worst is yet to come,” Marcos warned, noting the storm’s rapid development from a low-pressure area, adding that the volumes of water are unprecedented, hence the need to stay vigilant.
In Metro Manila, officials warned residents near Manila’s Tullahan River to prepare for possible flooding as La Mesa Dam approaches its spilling level.
The dam’s water level reached 79.50 meters at 8 a.m., just 0.65 meters below its spilling point of 80.15 meters.
Authorities identified several high-risk areas that could be affected if the dam overflows. In Quezon City, these include Fairview, Forest Hills Subdivision, areas along Quirino Highway, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome.
The warning also covers parts of Valenzuela City near North Expressway and La Huerta Subdivision, as well as riverside communities in Malabon.
Local disaster risk reduction officials have advised residents living near the riverbanks to stay alert for further increases in water levels.
Local disaster management offices are also monitoring the situation as more rainfall is expected in the coming hours.
Tropical Storm Kristine is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday, October 25.
Marcos emphasized downstream communities’ safety as a priority in the preemptive dam release strategy, aiming to minimize flooding risks as the tropical cyclone intensifies. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
