The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) called on farmers serviced by the Angat-Maasim river irrigation system (AMRIS) to adopt the adjusted cropping calendar amid the dropping water level in Angat Dam which allocates water for irrigation to Bulacan and Pampanga.
Still, NIA said the situation in the Angat Dam poses no grave threat to farmers in the area.
As of end-February, water level at Angat Dam, which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements, is at 196.29 meters above sea level (masl) or almost 16 meters lower than its normal water level of 212 masl.
C’zar Sulaik, NIA deputy administrator for engineering and operations sector, saidfarmers in Bulacan and Pampanga benefitting from Angat Dam are already in their terminal drainage stage of farming wherein water requirement is less.
Sulaik said in March and April, only 5 cubic meters per second is necessary to complete the remaining irrigation requirement for AMRIS.
