Binga Dam gate likely open 'til Tuesday due to continuous rains

MANILA – Due to forecast of continuous rainfall, the gate of Binga Dam in Itogon, Benguet will likely be opened up to six meters on Tuesday, an executive of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) said on Monday.

"Binga Dam's gate was opened at 0.3 meters since 1 p.m. We have received forecast that rains will continue, so we expect that the gate would remain open at up to 6 meters on Tuesday," Napocor's Dams Management Department Officer-in-Charge Maria Teresa Serra told the Philippine News Agency.

She said residents of Barangays Dalupirip and Tinongdan in Itogon will not be affected "because these areas are elevated, mountainous. So we don't expect residents of these areas to be affected."

Serra said despite this, the Napocor advised the local government units to remind residents to refrain from doing river activities.

"They should refrain from going to the rivers and avoid river activities due to the spilling water from the gate," she said.

Binga Dam's water level reached 571.29 meters as of 5 p.m. Its normal water level is 575m. (PNA)