The government has entered into an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway to improve the flood forecasting and warning system (FFWS) for the Magat dam in Isabela.
The agreement, which was signed by the Department of Science and Technology and the Norwegian Embassy, aims to reduce the loss of lives and damages to properties due to floods in downstream communities.

Under the accord, the Kingdom of Norway, through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), will contribute P71.2 million to upgrade existing FFWS facilities and expand the monitoring facilities of the Cagayan River basin. The project will also look into the existing dam protocols of Magat.

The Philippine government, on the other hand, will shoulder the P9.3 million needed for public information drive, labor and civil works.

Of the total local counterpart funds, P3.4 million will come from SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP)-Magat Inc., the operator of the Magat dam’s hydro power component, while the rest will be provided by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). 

Total project cost is about P80.6 million.

“When we assumed operation of the power plant, we saw the need for rehabilitating the FFWS system and equipment to better contribute to Pagasa and NIA’s disaster mitigation capabilities in times of flooding,” Emmanuel Rubio, SNAP-Magat Inc. chief executive officer, said.

The Magat dam is a multipurpose dam, which serves as a source of hydroelectric power and irrigation water for about 85,000 hectares of agricultural lands.

The dam is under operational control of the NIA, while SNAP-Magat Inc. owns and operates the 360-megawatt Magat hydroelectric power plant that was privatized by the government in 2007. 
SNAP is jointly owned by SN Power of Norway and the Aboitiz Group.

Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo