Water levels in six of nine monitored dams increased over the past 24 hours as the southwest monsoon, or habagat, continued to dump rain over parts of Luzon, PAGASA reported Wednesday morning.
Based on PAGASA’s 8 a.m. update on August 12, the dams that recorded higher levels were San Roque, Angat, Magat, Pantabangan, Binga, and Ipo. The sharpest rise was seen in San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, which climbed by 2.83 meters, from 260.34 meters on Tuesday to 263.17 meters Wednesday.
Angat Dam in Bulacan, a key water source for Metro Manila and nearby areas, also posted a major increase, rising by 2.12 meters to 177.10 meters. Magat Dam in Isabela followed with a 0.90-meter increase, bringing its level to 177.25 meters. PAGASA also noted smaller increases in Pantabangan, Binga, and Ipo dams.
Not all reservoirs rose. Caliraya, La Mesa, and Ambuklao recorded lower water levels. La Mesa Dam, which had earlier exceeded its overflow level, dropped from 80.17 meters to 79.84 meters, placing it below its 80.15-meter overflow status as of Wednesday morning.
Water releases also remain part of the picture. PAGASA reported that one gate of Ambuklao Dam was open at 0.5 meter, while three gates of Binga Dam were open at 1.3 meters. San Roque, Angat, and Magat continued to register the biggest water releases in the previous 24 hours.
The rise in dam levels comes as habagat rains continue to affect the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, western Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, and Marinduque. While dam increases can help water supply, they also require close monitoring when rains persist, especially for communities near waterways and flood-prone areas.
For residents, the advisory is clear: the rains may ease in some parts of the country, but western Luzon is still under watch. Local governments and communities near dams, rivers, and low-lying areas should continue tracking PAGASA and disaster office updates as habagat conditions continue.