MANILA - Officials of the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the state weather agency are one in saying that the protocol for releasing water from dams needs to be reviewed in light of the torrential rains that inundated many provinces of Luzon during the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng.”

The San Roque Dam released large volumes of water during the typhoon, and dam operators are being blamed for the widespread floodings in Pangasinan and nearby provinces.

Local and national officials have asked NPC to explain the timing of the releases. Typhoon Pepeng was battering Northern Luzon when the NPC released huge volumes of water.

Dr. Susan Espinueva, chief of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydro-meteorological division, said that a review of the protocol should be done to avert future disasters.

“Is 4 hours before the opening [of dam gates] kasya or enough for the LGUs to act or evacuate? Are the installed facilities in terms of warning – iyong mga sirena eh okay pa ba? Audible pa ba? Kasi may mga allegations kasi na di narinig,” said Espinueva.
 

Dr. Susan Espinueva of PAGASA

The PAGASA official also admitted that all forecast models during those days indicated “Pepeng” was on its way out. Instead, the typhoon made landfall again in Luzon after hovering in the Luzon seas for 2 days.

Espinueva also said that the weather agency has no equipment which could have gauged the amount of rainfall brought by “Pepeng.”

“Di namin maibigay iyong volume of water na papatak sa watershed within the next 3 days, 2 days para sana makapagbukas sila nang maaga,” said Espinueva.

“Large volume of water inflow”

The NPC official in charge of releasing water from dams, meanwhile, admitted he panicked due to the heavy rains brought by Typhoon "Pepeng." Still, he said the decision to release excess water from San Roque, prevented an even bigger tragedy.

Being in-charge of NPC's flood forecasting and warning system, it was Engineer Alexander Palada who ordered the release of an enormous amount of water from San Roque Dam.

Palada said the dam started releasing water on October 6 at 200 cubic meters per second. The rate was increased to 800 cubic meters per second, on the afternoon of October 7 as the water level of the dam rose.

When the rains still did not stop on Otober 8 and 9, the rains intensified. This was the point when Palada said he panicked.

“Kabada na ako noon, kabado na ako noon, nanginginig na nga ako noon. Text ko na nga sa boss ko delubyo na kami 'ka ko. Tulong sabi ko nga,” said Palada in an interview Thursday.

But the question is - why did Palada wait for the rainfall to surge, before ordering the release of water from the dam? The water level in San Roque Dam’s reservoir had already reached 284 meters on October 3, or 4 meters above the normal level.

“Iyong [Oct.] 4 and 5, walang ulan sir eh.. Di umuulan noon eh. Umaaraw nga sa Pangasinan eh. Kung maganda lang sana ang forecast natin.. Pwede nating hintayin siya kung malaman natin iyong tatapon,” said Palada.

“Right decision”

Palada said, however, that dam managers made the right decision to avert more damage.
 

Engineer Alexander Palada of National Power Corporation

He said if the water volume coming into San Roque dam was not spilt right away, water cresting the dam was very possible and this could have led to a “dam break.”

“Wala namang namatay sa ngayon. Kaysa sa wala na sana ang Pangasinan ngayon... Sige nga. Ilagay niyo nga ang paa ninyo sa sapatos ko. Kahit siguro kayo eh, anong gagawin ninyo. Less evil di ba?” said Palada.

Instead of pointing fingers now, Palada warned that authorities must now focus on ways to drain 100 million cubic meters of water from San Roque Dam, as another typhoon nears the country. This is the amount of water the dam must flush out, so that the water level in its reservoir will return to normal.

A hundred million cubic meters of water is equivalent to over 160,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Lost 4 cases already

The admission by the NPC official comes as Supreme Court records showed the NPC has lost four cases involving its decision to release water from the dams.

In 1978, a huge part of Bulacan was submerged after Angat Dam released water at the height of typhoon "Kading."

In 1986, Marantao, Lanao del Sur was also flooded because of the onrush of water from the Agus regulation dam.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Wednesday, Atty. Howard Calleja of the Ateneo Law School said the past rulings of the high tribunal against NPC are proof that dam operators can be held accountable for the floods.

Atty. Howard Calleja of the Ateneo Law School

“Kapag pumasok na kasi ang kamay ng tao, at hindi na niya ito nahinto o hindi niya nakitang ito mahinto kahit na pwede sana niya itong mahinto, tatanggalin na po natin sa ‘force majeure’ or ‘act of God’ doctrine,” said lawyer Howard Calleja, a professor of the law school and an expert on torts and damages.

But Calleja suggested that it may be time for local government officials and government agencies, like the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), to be charged as well.

“Titingnan natin ang lahat ng partisipantes dito: from the LGU, from the national which is represented by the NDCC and the dam operators because it has to a clear coordination. If the coordination is not clear, everybody in that line of coordination, I think is negligent,” said Calleja.

Calleja's comments came in view of the plan of Pangasinan residents to sue NPC and the San Roque Multi-purpose Project which released raging waters to the Agno river.

Although the high tribunal's decisions may give flood victims hope that persons responsible for the flooding will pay, Calleja also warned future complainants that their quest for justice might take a long time.

He explained decisions like these take years, before being handed down. Reports from Alvin Elchico and Jing Castañeda, ABS-CBN News