(Eagle News) – President Aquino announced on Wednesday that the Angat Dam and Dike would be rehabilitated through a P1.08 billion project that aims to make the structure strong enough to withstand a strong earthquake.
The President inspected the dam located in Norzagaray, Bulacan,and said that even a strong 7.2 magnitude quake would not make much damage to the dam once its full rehabilitation is finished.
“Todo rehabilitasyon nga po ang gagawin natin dito. Gamit ang pondong 1.08 bilyong piso, Layunin nating siguruhin ang stabilidad ng dam at dike, upang sa anumang lindol, kahit pa umabot ng hanggang 7.2 magnitude—o sinlakas ng nakaraang lindol sa Bohol—ay kakayanin pa rin ng strukturang ito,” the President said during his speech after the dam inspection.
He said there would also be a flood forecasting and warning system to be put in place, that would cost P261 million, as well as a flood control protection project that would cost P292 million.
The President noted that the Angat Dam has never undergone any major rehabilitation since it was built more than 50 years ago.
Considering that the dam lies near the West Valley fault, the absence of a proper surveillance system and the questionable stability of its structure make the dam vulnerable in case of a major earthquake, putting at risk the lives of some 3 million Filipinos, along with their properties and livelihood, he explained.
Any serious damage to the dam, he said, would also disrupt water supply in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal, Bulacan and Cavite, affecting 15 million people, and cut off irrigation for almost 27,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.
President Aquino said the rehabilitation of Angat Dam is part of a bigger strategy to improve the water sector.
Part of this strategy is the Angat Water Utilization and Aqueduct Improvement Project Phase 2, which was completed in 2012, 10 months ahead of schedule.
Bidding is ongoing for the other water projects like the Kaliwa Dam in Rizal, Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, and the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project.
The project to strengthen Angat dam is spearheaded by the Angat Hydropower Corporation (AHC). It will involve increasing the height of the dam’s impervious core and widening its downstream slope.
The AHC is a local corporation co-owned by the SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water).
K-Water Chief Executive Officer Gye-Woon Choi, in his speech, said since the Angat Dam provides drinking water to 10 million Filipinos, they are committed to complete the project in two years.
He also pledged that AHC will make Angat Dam one of the safest and essential facilities in the Philippines.
Present during the event were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang, AHC President Geung Jeon Han, and K-Water Chief Executive Officer Gye-Woon Choi.