Bustos Dam
NIA Region III – Following the reported incident involving the sudden deflation of Rubber Gate No. 3 of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (Bustos Dam) in Bustos, Bulacan, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region III immediately conducted a site visit and inspection on May 1, 2025 to assess the damage and current condition of the structure. This was followed by an inspection of technical experts from NIA Central Office on May 2, 2025.
The Bustos Dam rubber gate is situated on the dike with a base elevation of 15 meters. The Rubber Gate No. 3 opening measured only 76.90 meters wide, compared to the Angat River’s width of 250-300 meters, thus minimizing the overall impact of the incident. This means a maximum of 373 cms of water is expected to flow into the Angat River, which is within the safe limits to accommodate the discharge, and poses no threat to the residents in nearby towns.
To ensure public safety, NIA Region III coordinated with Angat Dam Management for the suspension of irrigation water releases from May 1, 2025, 3:00 PM. This prompt action stabilized the water flow and no significant changes in the river’s condition were observed. NIA assures the residents of Bustos, Baliwag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong, and Hagonoy that the incident poses no risk to their communities. The situation is now fully under control.
As part of its contingency measures, public access to the dam has been temporarily restricted. NIA continues to disseminate information to the Provincial Government and local government units in nearby areas. The Dam Monitoring Team also conducts hourly monitoring and physical inspections of the rubber gate.
To ensure uninterrupted irrigation services, NIA Region III will utilize 90 available Shallow Tube Wells (STWs). Each pump can irrigate up to 5 hectares of farmland. At present, 1,269.80 hectares under the service area of Angat-Maasim Rivers Irrigation System (AMRIS) were affected which requires 254 units of STW to fully irrigate the said area. In this regard, the remaining 164 units will be procured by NIA Region III. A coordination meeting with stakeholders will also be held to reinforce the implementation of water management practices and water-saving technologies, including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Technology.
The public is strongly encouraged to refrain from spreading misinformation and disinformation during times of crisis, as this can cause unnecessary panic. Please share only verified news and updates from official sources. (NIA Website)
About the Author
