Authorities have asked Pangasinan farmers and local government units (LGUs) to prepare for the possible halt of water irrigation supply this cropping season as the San Roque Dam’s water reservoir elevation nears its critical level.
In an interview on Wednesday, Engr. Cipriano Yabut, Agno-Sinocalan and San Fabian River Irrigation System chief, said the dam’s level is now at 226.55 meters above sea level (masl) as against its critical level at 225 masl.
He said the dam will stop releasing water supply for irrigation once it hits 225 masl.
“It has to halt in releasing water to maintain the reservoir to keep its turbines running and prevent damages to the facility,” he added.
Yabut said farmers and LGUs were advised to prepare their water pumps, and to pray for more rain to increase the water level of San Roque Dam.
“We conducted conferences with different national government agencies, LGUs, and the farmer-groups to inform them of this situation, for them to be prepared for water irrigation supply shortage,” he said.
Yabut said the farmer-groups in their meeting on Tuesday decided to seek assistance from the provincial government for the provision of more water pumps.
He said there are 32,500 hectares of land in the province being irrigated by the water supply from the San Roque Dam.
He attributed the low water reservoir in the dam to the lack of rain not only in the province, but also in the highlands where most of the dam’s water supply comes from.
Meanwhile, assistant provincial agriculturist Nestor Batalla urged the farmers to delay their planting of rice amid the dam’s situation and to consider planting other crops aside from rice.
“We will help our farmers together with other national government agencies and LGUs in addressing this problem,” he said in a radio interview.
Source: Philippines News Agency
