Looming dry season alarms NIA

Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija — The National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems revealed that the Pantabangan Dam can only support 95,400 hectares of farmland this coming dry season.

This is a significant decrease in the 147,000 hectares target that the NIA aims to supply water.

According to NIA-UPRIIS acting department manager Engr. Gertrudes Viado, the Pantabangan Dam cannot supply water to the 50,400 hectares of farmlands in Nueva Ecija once the El Niño phenomenon is felt at the start of 2024.

Viado pointed out that these farmlands will include areas in the towns of San Antonio, Licab and Zaragoza, including some farmlands in Tarlac and Pampanga.

According to the data released by the Dam Operating Managing Agencies on 7 December 2023, there are only 201.87 meters of water elevation in Pantabangan Dam.