Napocor exec: No protocol observed in San Roque Dam

The chief hydrologist of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) on Wednesday admitted before a Senate panel that they have no protocol in releasing water from dams. Instead, what the company follows in announcing water release is its "communication network," according to Engr. Russel Rigor. “Ang existing lang po natin ay yung communication network. Wala po [tayong protocol]," Rigor said in answering a question from Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who wanted to know if there is protocol being followed in releasing water from dams. Cojuangco was among the resource persons in the hearing by the Senate committee on climate change, but he was given permission by committee head Loren Legarda, his party mate at the National People’s Coalition (NPC), to ask questions on account that Pangasinan was a hardly hit area by typhoon "Pepeng." “I find it unconscionable that the country is operating dams that has the potential to destroy properties and to kill without an established standard operating procedure," Cojuangco said upon hearing Rigor’s answer. But in an interview with GMANews.TV, Alex Palada, head of Napocor's flood forecasting and warning system for dam operations division, denied Rigor’s statement, saying the hydrologist may have been "rattled" by Cojuangco’s inquiries. “Merong protocol. Baka na-rattle lang yun. May criteria sa first release ng tubig," he said, adding that the release of water from the San Roque Dam was done in accordance with their protocol. The release from the San Roque Dam has been blamed for the massive flood that hit several towns and cities in Pangasinan. Engr. Romualdo Beltran, manager of the Napocor dams, reservoir and waterways division, had earlier said that their protocol states that they would not release water as long as the dam could still hold it. Palada said Napocor ordered the release from San Roque Dam when the water level reached the 280-meter level, or 10 meters away from the critical 290-meter level. Legarda during the hearing said Napocor should have released the water even before it reached 280 meters. “Hindi ako engineer pero common sense naman po. Maaari naman palang gawin na bago mag-280 meters ay mag-release na paunti-unti," she said. Rigor, although she agreed with Legarda, said they delayed the release from the dam because they tried to impound the inflow that would go to Agno River, which he said could cause flooding. He said one of the functions of San Roque dam is to control flood in the area aside from generating hydroelectricity. But Senator Francis Escudero said instead of preventing flood, the Napocor’s decision cause the deluge of water to Pangasinan towns, which cost lives and rendered many residents homeless. - GMANews.TV