The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) emphasized on Thursday that the regional DRRMC has been given enough time after the advice was issued on water release from Magat Dam.
The council clarified that the dam had to release water to prevent it from spilling and breaking. Magat Dam is only one of the many tributaries that contributed to the rise of the Cagayan River water level.
“Magat Dam in the whole Cagayan River basin only contributes 15% of all the water that is in the basin. Majority of the water in Cagayan River comes from other tributaries. There are approximately 20 tributaries and Magat Dam is just 15% of that,” NDRRMC Spokesperson Peter Galvez explained.
Following the massive flooding in Cagayan caused by the onslaught of previous typhoons, the NDRRMC had to recommend the declaration of state of calamity over the entire Luzon which “will allow LGUs to use their funds for the efforts of rehabilitation.”
November 19 data show that 65,222 houses were destroyed due to Typhoon Ulysses in Calabarzon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac. At least 6,050 of the total number were totally wrecked with Bulacan having the most number at 2,655, while 59,172 were partially ruined.
The death toll remains at 73, while damage to agriculture was estimated at ₱4,017,999,590 and to infrastructure at ₱ 6,097,472, 576.28. – Report from Karen Villanda
