ILOILO — Heavy rains have led to elevated water levels in dams or river irrigation systems (RIS) across Western Visayas, with the province of Iloilo showing the most notable rise, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6.
As of 7 a.m. on July 20, NIA’s latest monitoring report showed that sustained precipitation caused water to steadily rise in dam structures spanning Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, and parts of Negros Occidental.
The agency warned that communities near rivers and reservoirs should stay alert for potential flooding.
“The significant increase in dam water levels, especially in Iloilo, is a result of continuous rains over the past days. We are closely monitoring all sites and coordinating with concerned LGUs (local government units),” the NIA stated.
In Iloilo Province, several irrigation dams recorded notable elevations:
* Aganan RIS Dam in San Miguel – 1.90 meters above river bed
* Barotac Viejo RIS Dam – 1.14 meters
* Jalaur RIS Dam in Dingle – 23.7 meters above sea level
* Suague RIS Dam in Mina – 1.80 meters
* Sta. Barbara RIS Dam – 1.96 meters
* Sibalom RIS Dam in Leon – 2.40 meters
In Antique, water levels also remain high, including Tipuluan Dam (2.40 meters), Solong Dam (1.20 meters), and Nasuli Dam (1.90 meters).
Aklan’s RIS East and West Dams both breached the 18-meter mark, while Capiz’s Mambusao RIS Dam reached 19.20 meters above sea level.
Negros Occidental’s Bago RIS Dam in Murcia rose to 4.09 meters, while Pangiplan RIS Dam in Himamaylan City reached 2.33 meters.
The NIA emphasized the importance of community preparedness amid the changing weather.
“We strongly advise all residents and individuals in proximity to rivers to remain vigilant and prepared for possible flooding or water level fluctuations in the coming days,” the agency said.
Authorities are expected to issue regular advisories as they assess both infrastructure resilience and risks to nearby communities./PN
