CHIZ : DAM OPERATORS SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THEIR LESSONS

Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero is reminding dam operators to learn their lessons from Ondoy and Pepeng and avoid letting the waters to reach at a maximum capacity before discharging. He said that the new typhoon may indeed bring as much rain as the two typhoons which devastated the whole of Luzon.

"If tyhoon Ramil is as powerful, then dam engineers cannot pin the blame on PAGASA or the DPWH anymore. They have seen how their reckless decisions resulted in tragic consequences," he said.

Escudero added that dams should release water before their maximum levels are breached.

"When the executives of San Roque dam asked to extend the deadline for their revamped protocol, they should have taken into account Ramil. Now that it is roaring and fast approaching, will the dam operators follow their outdated guidelines also?," he noted.

If the new typhoon doesn't veer from its course, Ramil will once again hit Northern and Central Luzon which includes devastated provinces like Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Pangasinan, Ilocos, and parts of Bulacan. As a precautionary measure, the Angat, Ipo, Ambuklao, Bangasan, San Roque, Pantabangan, and Magat have begun releasing volumes of water.

Escudero however finds these measures unsuitable. "If there is no clear policy, then it would be their judgment call if rainfall exceeds the normal rate. We have seen the limitation of their judgment, let's hope they are more prepared to handle a typhoon of this magnitude," he stressed.

On Monday, an official of the National Power Corporation was relieved upon his own request. Alexander Palada, division manager of the Flood and Forecasting and Warning System for Dam Operations, will be replaced by Virgilio Garcia,a principal hydrologist.

Escudero meanwhile assured the residents that there is already money that would be in place for the would-be victims of the new typhoon. "As a principal author of the additional P12 billion for the Calamity Fund, I will make sure that these funds will be directed to the proper agencies and organizations for its proper utilization," he said.