ILAGAN CITY, Isabela โ The Isabela provincial government on Monday, September 18, expressed concern over the condition of the Magat Dam in Magat, this province, due to siltation.
Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III, who chaired the 128th meeting of the Regional Development Council-2 at the amphitheater of the provincial capitol in which the maintenance of the Magat Dam was discussed, cited the urgent need to address the sedimentation crisis in the Magat dam and the crucial role of sabo. dams to manage downstream discharges and prevent sediment deposits in stream beds.
Albano said that according to studies, between 40 and 50 percent of the Magat Dam's capacity had been compromised due to sedimentation.
"Now we must seriously address the reports on the current state of the dam," said Albano, recalling the
Catastrophic floods in Libya when two dams burst killing more than 8,000 people and leaving 10,000 missing.
"This serves as unfortunate but compelling testimony to the imperative need for our swift action," he said.
The council unanimously approved the endorsement of a funding request for a feasibility study on the construction of cut-off channels for various sections of the river in the region to improve the discharge rate of the Cagayan River and address long-term flooding issues.
These canals align with the recommendations of the 2002 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Feasibility Study on the Flood Control Project for the Lower Cagayan River.
The Isabela Provincial Information Office said the council also approved the endorsement of a funding request for a comprehensive feasibility study that will integrate various structural and non-structural measures, including the construction of the proposed sabo dams at Ramon, Isabela and Diadi, New Vizcaya.
