A call for urgency:

Bulakenyo college students ask gov’t to act fast on Angat Dam issue

ANGAT DAM. A landscape photo of the Angat Dam reservoir.

Immediate action – this is what 10 out of 10 Bulakenyo college students asks the government towards the Angat Dam.

Though differing in expression and suggestions on possible solutions, the answers of the survey respondents boils down to a call for the government to act upon the issue involving the dam located at Norzagaray, Bulacan.

“Gawan na agad ng paraan. Hindi ‘yung kung kailan malala na at wala ng magagawang paraan tsaka sila kikilos,” said Patricia Delos Reyes, a junior BS Pharmacy student at Centro Escolar University (CEU) - Malolos.

“Dapat paglaanan ng malaking budget... ‘di dapat kurakutin ang ibibigay na pondo,” stated Mare Nella Bautista, junior Psychology student at Bulacan State University (BulSU).

“Dapat ibaba sa barangay level ‘yung mga anunsyo, even sa TV pwede,” deemed Maria Marienela Cruz, senior Psychology major at BulSU.

Cedrick Ramos, a third year BS Mathematics major in Computer Science at BulSU, believes that the national, provincial and local government, and the Bulakenyos as well, must help one another.

“’Di ko man alam ang pinakamagandang paraan para hindi maging mapaminsala ang dam break... malaki ang tulong na magagawa nito,” Ramos stated.

However, being asked for their own preparations for a possible dam break, four among the 10 Bulakenyo college students have done no preparations yet.

Jayson Dela Cruz, a third Information Technology major at BulSU explained “Wala naman. Hindi naman daw apektado ang Bulakan, Bulacan,” as he resides in the said town.

Meanwhile, the four other rely on prayers to do the work for them while the other two Bulakenyo college studes just constantly keeps up with the news for updates.

“Panalangin. For us po kasi, ‘yun ang pinakamabisang paghahanda para sa mga ganitong sitwasyon,” said Neil Roque, sophomore Broadcasting major at BulSU.

“Ano’t ano man kasi ang mangyari, mahalaga pa rin na unahin si God,” reasoned junior BulSUan Hotel and Restaurant Management major Amiel Balite.

But then, probing deeper into the respondents’ knowledge on the issue regarding the Angat Dam resulted to notably different answers.

“Nabalitaan ko na meron daw crack ang dam. Sinabi ‘yun ng guro ng kapatid ko,” stated Pauline Alvarado, another third year Information Technology student at BulSU.

“Nabalitaan ko po na ‘pag lumindol ay maaari itong bumigay at masira,” explained Roque.

 “May ginawang drill... Paghahanda raw kung sakaling mabiyak ang Angat Dam,” said BS Mathematics major in Computer Science freshman Lester Dillena from BulSU.

Moreover, wanting to know more about the circumstance, Ramos stated “Marami sa nabalitaan ko ay haka-haka lang. May crack na daw. Pinapagawa daw. Nawalan daw ng pondo. Ang gusto ko malaman ngayon kung ano ang ginagawa talaga ng gobyerno.”

Albert Ariola, a junior BulSUan Computer Engineering major expressed, “Gusto ko malaman kung paano maaagapan ng gobyerno natin ang malaking problema na ito.”

Through the former statements, it is clear that not all Bulakenyos have fully understood the condition of the Angat Dam, though nine out of 10 Bulakenyo college studes believe in the possibility of a dam break.

“’Di naman gagawa ng ganoong usapan ‘yung mga may katungkulan para lang takutin ‘yung mga tao,” deemed Delos Reyes.

Though a bit unsure, Balite said “Mas mabuti na maging handa... totoo man o hindi, kailangan talaga maghanda.”

The spread of news regarding the possible dam break reached its peak when the Bulacan provincial government conducted the “Angat Dam Break Drill” on December 13, 2013.

The drill participants walked along the McArthur Highway from their respective schools (BulSU, CEU, La Consolacion College of the Philippines and Bulacan Polytechnic College) and government offices to the Bulacan Sports Complex which served as the augmented evacuation center.

A dam break is believed to happen which will flood the province of Bulacan and neighboring places when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the Marikina West Valley Faultline (MWVF) which runs from Norzagaray, Bulacan, where the Angat Dam is located, up to Rizal.

This was assessed in 2009 by Dr. Renato Solidum of the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology who warned the province to prepare for the worst case scenario as a branch of the MWVF lies 200 meters from the one of the dam’s dikes.

It was then confirmed by a study conducted by the Tonkin & Taylor International and Engineering Development Corporation of the Philippines that there is actually a branch of the MWVF underneath one of the dikes of the Angat Dam.

No preparations yet:

Barangay Bambang residents have no plans yet for worst case scenario

ANGAT DAM. A landscape photo taken from the Angat Dam view deck.

Five out of 10 residents of Barangay Bambang, Bulakan have no preparations yet towards a possible dam break.

“Napag-uusapan pa lang, wala pang kongkretong gagawin,” said Feliciano Carreon, acting parish secretary of San Isidro Labrador Parish in the said barangay.

However, two among 10 respondents chose prayers as the best way to prepare while the three others answered seeking for higher places to evacuate and storing food in advance.

“We pray so that it won’t affect us and bring us to catastrophe,” stated Ricci Martinez, a teacher at Doña Candelaria Meneses Duque High School, also in Barangay Bambang.

“Alamin ang pinakamalapit na evacuation center, preferably building with second floor or third floor. Prepare first aid kit and early preparation of foods,” stated businessman Rowel Alcaraz.

These preparations can be rooted from their knowledge towards the problem.

“Hindi ko po alam,” answered Mylin Veron, a plain resident.

“Malapit na daw masira,” said Emily Lacsamana, another resident.

Teresa Rodriguez, a resident and teacher at Gen. Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School, said “Nabalitaan ko na may mga bitak na ito.”

“Kapag nagkaroon ng 7.2 na lindol mabe-break po ang dike ng dam,” stated Jorell Meneses, a tricycle driver.

Four out of 10 residents learned the condition of the Angat Dam through the news from TV, radio and newspaper.

“Oo, dahil malaki ang nagiging impluwensya ng television,” answered Gerlie Rivera, a teacher at St. Stephen School of Bulakan if she believes about what she heard about the dam.

However, “Kadalasan kasi totoo ang mga balitang napapanood [sa TV],” Rivera added, expressing a tinge of doubt towards the mass media.

“Partly, dahil may mga nagbabalita na masyadong sensationalized ang balita,” stated Alcaraz.

“Bagamat sometimes, they exaggerate, it but still it is true,” deemed Martinez who shared the same thinking.

However, while the other nine respondents believe the possibility of a dam break, Reggie Lazaro who found out about the issue through social media said “Hindi, parang imposible.”

Moreover, wanting the government to act upon the situation of the 47 year-old dam, “Sa lalong madaling panahon ay isaayos na nila ito, bago magkaroon ng malubhang pangyayari na sisira sa buhay at kabuhayan ng maraming mamamayan,” said Carreon.

“Hangga’t maaga, i-repair na [nila] ‘yung dam,” stated Neil Roque, a second year Broadcasting major at Bulacan State University.

According to Rodriguez, the national, provincial and local government should help one another in solving the circumstance.

“Iwasan ang graft and corruption at isaayos ang dapat isaayos,” added Martinez.

Roque expressed his desire to know more about the issue, “Gusto ko po malaman kung ano-anong mga lugar ang maaaring masyadong maapektuhan nito at… saan maaaring ligtas para sa lahat.”

Also, Carreon stated “Ano ba talaga ang kalalagayan nito sa kasalukuyan?”

The Angat Dam which is located at Norzagaray, Bulacan is believed to break down if a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the Marikina West Valley Faultline (MWVF) as a branch of the MWVF lies underneath one of the dam’s dikes.

This was confirmed by studies conducted by Tonkin & Taylor International and Engineering Development Corporation of the Philippines (Edcop).

Back in 2009, Philippine Volcanology and Seismology director Renato Solidum revealed that a branch of that the Bulacan province must prepare for the worst case scenario being the dam break for a branch of the MWVF lies 200 meters from one of the dikes of the dam.

Last December 13, 2013, the provincial government of Bulacan conducted a dam break drill along the McArthur Highway to the Bulacan Sports Complex, which was then participated by Bulacan State University (BulSU), Centro Escolar University (CEU), Bulacan Polytechnic College (BPC), La Consolacion University of the Philippines (LCUP) and various offices and response teams from the government.

A Day of Prayer:

Bulakenyos ask for protection against Angat Dam break

PRAYER. Bulakenyos prayed to God to protect them from any calamity, especially from a dam break.

Through the Day of Prayer conducted by the Provincial Government of Bulacan, Bulakenyos of different religions and sects united to pray for their province, January 20, 2014.

“This is just a start-up para mapagbuklod-buklod… ang mga parties, mga taong bayan, mga segment ng society,” said Atty. Pastor Elmo Duque, the guest speaker of the program.

Bulakenyos implored God’s protection from any calamity, most especially from an earthquake that may cause the destruction of the province’s 47-year old Angat Dam.

“’Yun ang konting lambing natin sa Panginoon,” stated Duque who have emphasized that Bulakenyos must open their small hearts to let the giant God who in.

“That giant God will protect you… from any destruction, from any calamity,” added the pastor.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado also believes that if God is with the Bulakenyos, nothing will be against them in achieving the progress of their province and of the nation as well.

“This is just a prelude to a bigger rally,” stated the governor, viewing this as a way to call the attention of the people concerned in the retrofitting of the Angat Dam.

If a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the Marikina West Valley Faultline (MWVF) which passes under one of the Angat Dam’s dikes, a dam break is believed to occur that will submerge the whole province of Bulacan and affect 70% of Manila.

With regards to urging the national government for immediate action towards the Angat Dam repair, the province conducted an Angat Dam Break Drill last month involving around 12,000 students, provincial government officials and response teams from the different municipalities of Bulacan.

Bulacan conducts drill for possible dam break

INCIDENT COMMANDER. Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado delivers a speech in front of the 12,000 participants and eventually declares the drill terminated.

Around 12,000 students and provincial government officials of Bulacan participated in the Angat Dam Break Drill conducted in the said province, December 13, at the Bulacan Sports Complex in Sta. Isabel, Malolos City.

The worst case scenario which is the possible Angat Dam break which is believed to happen when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the Marikina West Valley Fault Line which runs from Norzagaray, Bulacan where the dam is located, up to Rizal was assessed earlier by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato U. Solidum.

Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, who acted as the incident commander, said that in this event, the 815 million metric tons of water which the Angat Dam holds will carry a 30-meter deep flood in Bulacan, Pampanga and Metro Manila.

The drill was done in participation of students from Bulacan State University (BulSU), La Consolacion University of the Philippines (LCUP), Bulacan Polytechnic College (BPC) and Centro Escolar University (CEU), officials of the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) and response teams from different municipalities in the province.

Possibly the safest place

“Dapat alam mo kung saan ka tatakbo,” said Bro. Martin Francisco of Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc., (SSMESI).

The Bulacan Sports Complex served as the augmented evacuation center because it was said that it will not be flooded by water once the dam breaks.

Governor Alvarado stated, “Dito sa lugar na ito, sinasabing baka hindi abutin ng tubig.”

“Inaasahan natin na ang mga taga-Hagonoy, ang mga taga-Calumpit, ang mga nabanggit na bayan-bayan, maging ang San Miguel… dito didiretso sa lugar na ito,” Alvarado added, “Dito tayo mag-oopisina. Dito tayo matutulog hanggang matapos ang sakuna.”

Useful or not?

“’Pag ba nasira talaga ‘yan, nagkaroon ng rumaragasang tubig mag-dri-drill pa ba kayo?,” said Rob Ricardo, third year Communication Arts student in LCUP, “Tatakbo na kayo, hahatakin n’yo na ang pamilya n’yo, pupunta na kayo sa pinakamalapit na evacuation center.”

“Survival skills na lang yan,” deemed Ricardo.

Sharing the same thinking, Alvarado said in his speech, “’Pag [lumindol] at rumaragasa na ang tubig, hindi pupwede ‘yung pa-ganda-ganda tayong naglalakad sa kalsada.”

Yet this drill is for the sake of information dissemination, Francisco said “ Nakakatulong. Nakakatulong. Awareness, kasi hanggang ngayon, ‘di pa alam ng mga tao.”

However, the Sierra Madre advocate suggested another effective way of disseminating information to all the municipalities.

“Pinakamaganda. Pinakamabilis. Gumawa ng mga cd [na] kumpleto sa lahat ng impormasyon at kung anong preparasyon, kung anong gagawin ng mga bayan-bayan. Mas maliit ang gastos,” explained Francisco.

The verdict

Office of Civil Defense 3 Regional Director Josefina Timoteo who observed the conducted dam break drill assessed the activity as almost perfect and gave it a rating of 9.9 over 10.

“Sana ganito rin ang gawing pagtugon kung meron mang mga actual na disaster,” she said.

Timoteo also expressed, “Napapalakas po nito ang aking kalooban na sa parte ng region, sa Bulacan, ay kampante ako dahil may mga competent at good leaders na maaasahan na tutugon kung may mga kalamidad.

“Dapat, kung hindi man maipatupad agad ‘yung retrofitting nito, kailangan ang patuloy-tuloy  na pagsasagawa ng drill para ma-ensure ‘yung kaligtasan ng ating pamayanan,” Timoteo added.

 Also, the regional director had a recommendation, “Aside from retrofitting ng Angat Dam, kailangan din nating inspeksyunin ‘yung mga critical infrastructure especially old churches, buildings and hospitals.”

Call for action

“Hindi pupwede na ang isang ama’y ‘di magsasalita at mag-iintay na lamang…”

The Bulacan Governor led the Bulakenyos in calling the attention of the people responsible for the retrofitting of the Angat Dam to act immediately.

According to Alvarado, President Benigno Aquino III already set aside a 5.7 billion fund for the retrofitting of the dam more than a year ago.

“Bakit hanggang ngayon ‘di pa rin ginagastos kahit isang sentimo para patibayin ang istruktura ng Angat Dam?” the governor lamented.

“Habang nagdedebate sila gastusin na ang 5.7 billion na kaloob ng ating Pangulo, sapagkat habang nagdedebate sila, ang tabak ni Damocles ay bibitin-bitin sa bawat ulo ng milyun-milyong mamamayan ng ating Dakilang lalawigan, ng Pampanga at ng Metro Manila,” stressed Alvarado.

“Prevention is better than cure… May pera naman, gastusin na, nang makatulog ang mga Bulakenyo,” Alvarado added.

The answer to the million dollar question, “ Sino ba ang magpapagawa nito? Ang national government ba o ang KWater na Koreano?” remains unknown.

“Hindi tayo pagmamalasakitan ng mga Koreano. Sila’y nagtungo rito upang magnegosyo,” stated Alvarado.

The governor also emphasized, “Walang magmamahal sa mga Pilipino kung hindi tayo ring mga Pilipino at walang magmamahal sa mga Bulakenyo kung hindi tayo ring mga Bulakenyo.”

Francisco said in an interview that KWater cannot also lead the retrofitting of the dam because it is a state-owned company and doing so is a ground for corruption.

Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant (HEPP) which is powered by the water from Angat Dam is now under the control of the Korea Water Resources Development Corp. (K-Water), a Korean state-owned company.

The said foreign company forged with San Miguel Corp. who was said to lead the local management of the power plant.

The next move

This drill, as said by Alvarado is the third and the biggest Angat Dam Break Drill held in the province. The first two drills were held in two barangays in the municipality of Calumpit.

“Bawat bayan-bayan, we will replicate this dam break drill,” stated Alvarado, “Para makarating sa kinauukulan at sa ating Panginoon na tayo, sa paghingi ng awa, ay gumagawa.”