CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - The National Irrigation Administration - Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) has reported that there were no damages seen to the facilities of the Magat Dam reservoir after the strong earthquake that hit Northern Luzon last July 27, 2022.

The Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) tracked the epicenter of the earthquake in the province of Abra where large damages to government and private buildings were reported just after the strong earthquake happened.

NIA-MARIIS Acting Department Manager Gileu Michael Dimoloy immediately ordered the inspection of the Magat dam facilities and canals right after the earthquake.

“Let us inspect our canals and facilities for any possible damages due to the recent earthquake,” Dimoloy said in his order.

After the inspection, Dimoloy initially reported to the NIA Central Office that the Magat Dam and its appurtenant structures, Baligatan Hydroelectric Power Plant, Baligatan Diversion Dam, MRIIS dam and bridge structure, buildings, and roads are undamaged by the recent earthquake and are in good condition.

“The earthquake has no significant damage to the dam structure. The dam structure is in normal condition,” Dimoloy said in his report.

He said the NIA-MRIIS will continue its inspections of the drainage galleries, power transmission, and distribution lines, including the slide of the Korokan Fault and the watershed reservoir rim to ensure that the facilities in the dam are in normal conditions.

Dimoloy said that they will still be requesting experts from the NIA Central Office for a Joint Safety Dam Inspection and evaluation for a thorough evaluation of the status of the dam. (OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela)