MAGAT DAM SUSTAINS RISE PAST 160-MASL CRITICAL WATER LEVEL AMID CLOUD SEEDING OPERATIONS AND RAINS

Magat Dam, Isabela — Sustained rainfall from cloud seeding operations and monsoon rains enhanced by recent weather disturbances, including Tropical Storm Maymay, have pushed the water elevation at the Magat Dam – Luzon’s largest watershed – past its critical water level, offering relief to farmers after several weeks of dry conditions caused by El Niño.

As of August 6, 2026, Thursday, Magat Dam recorded an elevation of 166.44 meters above sea level (masl), steering clear of the 160 masl critical water level that could have put at risk at least 12,000 hectares out of this irrigation system’s total programmed area of 96,000 hectares.

The reservoir dipped on July 15 to as low as 159.76 masl, its trough for 2026 amid the drought.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), in coordination with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BWSM), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of National Defense (DND), swiftly moved to bring rain over the Magat watershed as rains from the storms were not enough to sustain the dam’s normal irrigation operations.

The cloud seeding operations – now on its third week – have sustained Magat’s water elevation beyond the critical 160 masl level since the July 15 year’s low.

Without the Philippine Air Force’s cloud seeding operations and other interventions conducted by the NIA, the Magat dam level was forecast to dip to a record-low of 148 masl last July. The Philippine Air Force’s operations, with a 100 percent success rate, saved thousands of hectares of rice and corn fields.

“Sa pag-uulan na nararanasan natin dulot ng matagumpay na cloud seeding operations, na sinabayan ng pag-uulan dulot ng weather disturbances, nakapagtala ang ating rain gauge stations ng pag-uulan sa ating watershed at sa ating service area. Unti-unti nang tumataas ang lebel ng tubig mula sa pinakamababang 159.76 meters above sea level, at sa ngayong 11 AM, 166.44 masl na tayo. Patuloy ang ating monitoring sa ating mga irrigation canal para makasiguro sa kaayusan ng mga imprastraktura, at magbawas o suspend ng irrigation delivery kung sapat na ang pag-uulan na mapatubigan sa kasalukuyan ang mga palayan. Sa ganitong paraan ay madagdagan pa ang imbak na tubig sa Magat Reservoir,” NIA-MARIIS Department Manager Engr. Gileu Michael Dimoloy said.

Recent rains continue to improve inflows, helping restore the reservoir’s working volume for the cropping season. Cloud seeding operations have been scheduled for the rest of the year across dam systems nationwide amid the lingering threat from El Niño.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo na may natatanggap po ngayon na natural na ulan yung atin pong mga dams at makakabawi po sila. Kapag umigi na po at wala na po yung sama ng panahon o yung bagyo, patuloy pa din po na magsasagawa ng cloud seeding operations doon po sa Magat dahil kailangan pa rin po ng karagdagan pa pong pagpapaulan,” said DA-BSWM Agrohydrologist Expert Engr. Corazon Ditarro.

“Isa po sa pinakamahalagang tinitingnan namin ay ang kasalukuyang weather at environmental conditions. Sa aming Unit po, ang Air Force Weather Center, kami po ang nagsasagawa ng masusing assessment ng lagay ng panahon,” said Major Yusop Tang, PAF Cloud Seeding Officer.

Meanwhile, Pantabangan Dam water levels also showed improvement, with the latest reading at 179.80 masl, which is 8.79 meters above the low water level. Field offices under the NIA Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) are closely monitoring conditions and adjusting water delivery to support farmers in Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces.

Cloud Seeding Operations Across Regions

Cloud seeding operations over Magat Dam began in the third week of July and will continue until September, delivering a 100 percent success rate before temporarily pausing this week due to Tropical Storm Maymay. The operations for Magat Dam watershed and agricultural areas in the province of Isabela and Cayagan is funded under National Rice Program. For Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, aircraft and Philippine Air Force personnel are already on standby, with deployment scheduled between August and December 2026. In Western Visayas, natural rainfall continues to sustain watersheds, so cloud seeding is set for the dry cropping months, as well as in Bohol where preparations are underway for the October-December 2026 cloud seeding operations.

All cloud seeding activities for these regions have been approved by the Department of National Defense (DND), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). NIA, the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Air Force remain in close coordination, with the country’s airmen confirming readiness for deployment. This whole-of-government approach to cushion El Niño’s impact ensures unified planning, mobilization and field monitoring to enhance rainfall and support irrigation across affected provinces, boosting the government’s bid to strengthen food security.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen said: “Ang pag-angat ng water levels sa Magat at Pantabangan ay malinaw na senyales na nakakatulong ang pag-uulan at ang mga ginagawa natin sa field. Patuloy po ang koordinasyon sa iba’t ibang ahensya para masigurong maayos ang daloy ng patubig at sapat ang suporta sa ating mga magsasaka.”  

NIA will continue releasing updated dam level readings and irrigation advisories to keep its stakeholders informed. With the calendar for cloud seeding operations properly ironed out, combined with the stronger interagency coordination, farmlands and agricultural communities will have buffers against the drought.

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