8 dams below normal; 6 more at critical levels

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May 21, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Extreme heat has pushed six dams in Western Visayas to critical levels while eight major dams in Luzon have also started to go below their normal water levels.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday, San Roque Dam has the largest gap at 227.3 meters against its normal water level at 280 m. Angat Dam is now at 177.05 m against its normal water level of 210 m and Pantabangan Dam is now at 187.97 m compared to its 216 m normal water level.

Ipo Dam is at 100.04 m, slightly lower than its 101.1 m normal water level, La Mesa Dam is at 79.89 m against 80.15 m and Magat Dam at 182.78 against its normal level of 193 m.

The bigger dams are also now below their normal water levels, with Ambuklao Dam at 740.82 m against its 752 m normal water level while Binga Dam is at 567.91 m compared to 575 m.

GMA News reported that six dams in Western Visayas are now at critical water level.

The dams reported were Barotac Viejo River Irrigation System, Panakuyan RIS dam, Sibalom Diversion Dam, Tipuluan Dam, Solong Dam and Mambusao RIS dam.

The National Irrigation Administration said it is putting mitigation measures in place to help farms and farmers cope with the effects of the dry season.

The Climate Change Commission said that water stress and prolonged dry periods are among the climate-related hazards that local government units must anticipate and address through science-based, forward-looking planning, particularly through the formulation and implementation of local climate change action plans.

Danger heat index

PAGASA yesterday said 39 areas were at danger-level heat index with Catarman, Northern Samar recording the highest at 47 degrees Celsius followed by Baler, Aurora at 46 degrees Celsius.

Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Tarlac City; Virac, Catanduanes; Roxas City, Capiz; and Maasin, Southern Leyte recorded 45 degrees Celsius.

The areas that logged 44 degrees Celsius were Tuguegarao City; Echague, Isabela; Camiling, Tarlac; Daet, Camarines Norte; Siquijor; Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte and Butuan City.

Bacnotan, La Union; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Puerto Princesa City and Cuyo, Palawan; Iloilo City, and Guiuan, Eastern Samar hit 43 degrees Celsius.

The remaining areas that recorded 42 degrees Celsius are Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Aparri, Cagayan; Casiguran, Aurora; Iba, Zambales; Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Subic Bay, Olongapo City; San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City; Infanta and Alabat, Quezon; Coron and Aborlan, Palawan; Legazpi, Albay; Masbate City; Dumangas City, Iloilo; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Davao City and Surigao City.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the easterlies will cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila and parts of Mindanao.