Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

Maria Virginia Sy

Water levels in Angat Dam dropped to 156.37 masl on July 10, two days before reaching a historic low of 155.91 masl on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Below-normal rainfall has led to slow replenishment of the reservoir, impacting the livelihoods of locals, particularly the Dumagats, who rely mostly on fishing.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Angat Dam

Praying for rain: Dumagats lament changing climate as Angat Dam hits historic low

Dumagats transport harvested squash as an alternative source of livelihood when low water levels make fishing less feasible for those residing in the Angat reservoir.  Water levels in Angat Dam dropped below the critical mark after registering 159.95 masl on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026.
Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Boats are left on the dried-up part of Angat Reservoir as water levels drop to 159.95 masl on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Lucelle Regodon walks to the lakeshore as water levels dropped to 159.37 masl on July 10, 2026. Access to water becomes more difficult for those residing in the watershed as they must traverse steep parts of the reservoir, which have been exposed as the water level dropped to its critical level. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

A floating house is relocated to deeper waters as water levels dip to 159.37 masl on July 10, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Dumagat elder Ricardo San Jose prepares piles of squash for transport to the shore of Angat Dam as water levels dip below the critical mark, following the 159.95 masl reading on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Dumagats navigate a shallow part of Angat Reservoir as water levels dip below the critical mark after registering 159.95 masl on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Fishermen catch fish at a shallow part of Angat Reservoir  as water levels dropped  below the critical mark after registering 159.95 masl on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Dumagats equipped with wooden rods or paddles attempt to catch the trapped fish in mud puddles, a process known as “nagkakapa,” as water levels dropped  below the critical mark after registering 159.95 masl on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Dumagat elder Tatay Boy walks on a dried-up part of the confluence of the Matulid and Maputi Rivers inside the Angat Reservoir as water levels dropped  to 156.37 masl on July 10, two days before reaching a historic low of 155.91 masl on Sunday, July 12, 2026 Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Tatay Boy, a 70-year-old Dumagat elder, navigates a completely dried-up section of the riverbed with a sack of rice on his shoulder, risking getting stuck in the muddy confluence. The low water level has forced residents to endure grueling five-hour walks just for a regular supply run.

Dumagats residing within the Angat Watershed expressed concern that this year’s dry spell is the worst they have ever witnessed, surpassing the El Niño events of 2010 and 2019. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Submerged parts of Angat Dam get exposed as water levels in Angat Dam dropped  to 156.37 masl on July 10, two days before reaching a historic low of 155.91 masl on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Below-normal rainfall has led to slow replenishment of the reservoir, impacting the livelihoods of locals, particularly the Dumagats, who rely mostly on fishing.   Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News

<div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><div><br/></div><p>The water level in Angat Dam dipped to its lowest recorded level of 155.91 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday, July 12, 2026, according to PAGASA’s daily update.</p><p>This drop occurred despite forecasts of heavy rainfall in Luzon brought by Typhoon Inday enhancing the southwest monsoon. Ultimately, the anticipated downpour failed to replenish the reservoir. </p><p>For Ricardo San Jose, a Dumagat elder residing within the Angat Watershed, this year’s dry spell is the worst he has ever witnessed—even surpassing the El Niño events of 2010 and 2019.</p><p>“Our climate has become unpredictable,&quot; San Jose said. &quot;We didn’t even expect the dam’s water level to reach this low. Despite the brewing storm, we had to adjust the location of our floating house as the water level got lower. I am not even sure what the reason could be for why the rain hasn’t caught up. The weather here has indeed changed.”</p><p>The water flow from the reservoir&#x27;s two major tributaries, the Maputi and Matulid rivers, has been significantly reduced, with very little water reaching their confluence. The shallow condition has almost reached the center of the reservoir according to residents.</p><p>This drastic drop in the water line makes transporting essential supplies highly challenging for the local residents, most of whom belong to the indigenous Dumagat community.</p><p>For instance, Tatay Boy, a 70-year-old Dumagat elder, recently had to navigate a completely dried-up section of the riverbed with a sack of rice on his shoulder, risking getting stuck in the muddy confluence.</p><p>The low water level has forced residents to endure grueling five-hour walks just for a regular supply run.</p><p>For Lucelle Regodon, who is married to a Dumagat, long treks are only part of the hardship. Residents must also paddle far out from the banks into the deeper sections of the reservoir just to fetch drinking water. While some families, like Lucelle’s, are fortunate to have water filters to ensure safety, others are left vulnerable to severe stomach-related illnesses.</p><p>According to Lucelle, Angat&#x27;s water level began steadily receding at the start of 2026, around January. Although there were brief moments when the water would rise slightly, the subsequent drop was always greater. &quot;The water level drops fast,&quot; she added.</p><p>Wilfredo Senadrin, principal engineer for the National Power Corp.’s Dams, Reservoirs, and Waterways Division, explained that the reservoir&#x27;s starting elevation for 2026 was lower at just 211.5 masl.</p><p>In previous years, water levels normally began much higher, at around 212 to 214 masl.</p><p>Irrigation allocations requested by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) were heavily released in January to compensate for a planting shutdown in November and December.</p><p>Below-normal rainfall driven by El Niño then worsened the situation, leaving the dam with very little replenishment, particularly during May and June—a period with more steady rainfall.</p><p>“The onset of the southwest monsoon offers hope for increased inflow,” Senadrin said.</p><p>However, he emphasized that managing the dam&#x27;s water level remains a difficult balancing act.</p><p>He explained that shifting climate patterns make decisions regarding water allocation and releases a tough choice; stronger typhoons and sudden, extreme rainfall can quickly lead to heavy inflows that require spilling water, which directly puts downstream communities at risk. </p><p>As the threats of El Niño loom, a strategic approach to water management is more critical than ever.</p><p>With PAGASA forecasting a reduction in rainfall during the upcoming dry cycles, proactive conservation measures, such as rainwater harvesting and alternative solutions, must be urgently explored. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZmbmWnCyG3E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The water level in Angat Dam dipped to its lowest recorded level of 155.91 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday, July 12, 2026, according to PAGASA’s daily update. This drop occurred despite forecasts of heavy rainfall in Luzon brought by Typhoon Inday enhancing the southwest monsoon.</p>

The water level in Angat Dam dipped to its lowest recorded level of 155.91 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday, July 12, 2026, according to PAGASA’s daily update. This drop occurred despite forecasts of heavy rainfall in Luzon brought by Typhoon Inday enhancing the southwest monsoon.