NORZAGARAY, Bulacan—The strengthening and rehabilitation of the aging Angat Dam in the mountain village of San Lorenzo here has started, an engineering project that seeks to strengthen the 49-year-old rock-filled structure to withstand a powerful earthquake.
Engr. Russel Rigor, dam engineer of Angat Hydro Corp. (AHC), said new instruments and modern technology will be installed, including strong motion sensors to monitor seismic developments.
“We don’t want any earthquake to happen, but we are confident that the fortification of Angat Dam will extend its life span for another 50 years,” Rigor said, adding that the rock-filled earth dam, which became operational in October 1967, has a life span of 50 years.
He said the preconstruction works have been completed as of July 2016.
This included the conduct of survey and soil investigation, repair of access roads, construction of temporary bridge, installation of engineering facilities, and actual site verification and detailed engineering design.
Rigor also said the environment compliance certificate needed to start Phase II (construction works) was issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental and Management Bureau on October 3.
He said tree-cutting permit was also issued on August 23 and the quarrying permit is still under process.
The San Miguel Foundation has also put up a resettlement area of the Dumagat tribesmen and has also provided them with livelihood programs.
Likewise, Rigor said the main works that will be under Phase 2 include the flattening of the downstream slopes of the main dam, main dike and secondary dike to improve stability of said structures; raising of the impervious core of the main dam by about 1.2 meters to prevent overtopping of the main dam during seismic events and installation of new dam instruments, such as strong motion sensors and standpipe piezometers for better monitoring.