PHRecent rainfall due to monsoons and typhoons has helped irrigate rice farms in Bulacan and Pampanga, despite the Angat Dam remaining at critically low levels. The dam's water level fell to 163.51 meters on June 24, 2026, well below its normal high level of 210 meters. While the dam prioritizes supplying Metro Manila's water needs and generating hydroelectricity, local farmers have relied on rainwater to prepare for the wet cropping season. Farmers report storing runoff water in muddy ponds and planning planting between August 8 and 25. Over 22,000 farmers across 17 Bulacan towns and parts of Pampanga depend on the Angat Maasim River Irrigation System, but the dam's reservoir remains depleted, forcing some to plant earlier than usual. The Butos Dam is also at a low elevation, highlighting ongoing water management challenges.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information about agricultural conditions and water management without overtly favoring any political ideology. It reports on the situation faced by farmers and the technical status of the Angat Dam without taking a clear stance on policy solutions or political responsibility. S
