The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure a timely public advisory on the release of water in dams under its operational management.
During a hybrid Palace briefing, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said they have an advanced forecast system to provide ample time intervals between the announcement and the actual water release to ensure the safety and preparedness of communities that may be affected.
“The NIA is utilizing advance weather forecasting system with AI technology,” he said in Filipino.
“The shortest advisory that we have for them would be about) four days to one week, that’s how sure we are in the forecaster system in NIA."
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the water level in Magat dam reached 185.03 meters, lower than its 190 normal high water level; while the Pantabangan dam was at 194.11 meters.
“The high dams under NIA have not released water yet. The one which initially released water is the Ipo dam,” he said.
He added the release of water in the Ipo dam may affect residents in Bulacan.
To date, the water level in Angat dam is at 198.11 meters, while 100.28 meters in Ipo dam.
Guillen made the clarification after damage to crops and infrastructures in irrigated areas were reported following the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and Severe Tropical Storm Crising (Wipha).
To date, the NIA reported around P339.3 million worth of initial damage to crops and about P866 million worth of infrastructure damage.
These include partial damage recorded in 31,172 hectares of agricultural land in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, particularly the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) area, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas.
The NIA chief, meanwhile, assured aid to affected farmers under its “Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka” contract growing program.
“The NIA is always ready to assist you in times of calamities like this… We are in continuous coordination with the Department of Agriculture to provide you with the needed seeds to replant again,” Guillen said.
NIA PHOTO
