The National Irrigation Administration said Sunday the recent fooding in Cagayan Valley could not be wholly-attributed to Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela.
It said Magat River Basin is only one of the 20 river systems within the Cagayan River Basin. Studies showed that Magat Dam contributes only 15 percent of the river basin’s total water storage capacity and 21 percent if the considered control point will be in Buntun Bridge, Tuguegarao City, according to the agency.
Magat Dam was pinpointed as the culprit in the widespread flooding within the Cagayan Valley Region during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses on Nov. 11 to 12.
The NIA said Cagayan River Basin is subdivided into three parts: Upper Cagayan River Basin (Ganano and Magat), Middle Cagayan River Basin (Siffu-Mallig, Pinacanauan Rivers of Ilagan, Tumaini and San Pablo) and Lower Cagayan River Basin (Pinacanauan de Tuguegarao, Chico Pared and Dummun).
It said the recent flooding in the province of Cagayan and some portions of Isabela was caused by natural calamities which were beyond human control.
