MANILA-NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, NPC Chairman Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, and MWSS Administrator Gerardo A.I. Esquivel led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the rehabilitation of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (also known as Bustos Dam) at the MWSS Headquarters in Quezon City.
This project aims to rehabilitate the dam and its appurtenant structures to prevent further damages, improve irrigation service delivery and cropping intensity in the service area, and to serve as flood control during rainy season. The rehab covers the replacement of 6 bays rubber gates; improvement of apron, training walls, and gates; improvement of main canals, laterals, and other structures; and improvement of operations and maintenance and support services.
As stipulated in the MOA, MWSS will provide the Php1-B funding to cover the project implementation and will maximize the project to ensure domestic water supply. On the other hand, NPC will utilize the project to sustain its power generation capacity.
The Bustos Dam is operated by the NIA Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) in Region 3. AMRIS serves a total of 31,485 hectares benefitting 23,708 rice farmers in 16 municipalities in Bulacan and 4 municipalities in Pampanga.
Also present during the MOA signing are NIA-Region 3 Manager Josephine B. Salazar and NWRB Deputy Executive Director Jorge M. Estioko.
