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Water in Laguna Lake may reach new record high

MANILA - The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on Friday said floods in several towns in Laguna province could remain until December this year after water levels in Laguna de Bay reached its highest level in three decades.
LLDA General Manager Ed Manda said the water level in Laguna de Bay reached 13.8 meters last September 30, which is 3 meters above the normal 10.5 meter water level.
He said more rains brought by typhoon Pepeng (international codename Parma) could increase the water level to 14.5 meters, which is the highest recorded water level in Laguna in 90 years.
"The critical point is 14.5 meters. If it goes above that, the floods will be worse in the areas that are already affected, including lakeshore towns," he said in an ANC interview Friday afternoon.
He added: "At its present level and based on our 1972 and 1978 experience, the floodwaters will stay up to December this year. It may even reach up to February next year."
The water level in Laguna de Bay, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Southeast Asia, rose to a record high 14.62 meters in 1919 due to a typhoon. In 1978, typhoon-induced rains caused the level to rise to 13.58 meters.
An LLDA advisory issued Friday morning identified 12 towns most likely to be affected by a rise in Laguna de Bay's water level. These are:
Bae
Lumban
Siniloan
Sta Maria
Mabitac
Pangil
Pakil
Victoria
Biñan
Sta. Rosa
Kalayaan
San Pedro

Manda said water from the bay is slowly draining to the Pasig River at an estimated 150 cubic meters per second.
He also said he expects subdivisions and residences in the fringes of the southern part of the bay to continue to experience flooding in the years to come. He said these include subdivisions in San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao.
"They entered what we call the 12.5 meter elevation level. They should expect floods to reach their area every year," he said.
Manda blamed climate change and denudation of watersheds as the primary causes of the flooding of the bay.
He added that siltation of the river, which is aggravated by the building of subdivisions near the lake, is also to blame for the flooding.
He said that while there is no short-term solution to the floods, he said the government should look at protecting watersheds and reducing residential developments and mining operations near the lake.
President Arroyo has placed the entire nation under a state of calamity as super-typhoon Pepeng approached the country.

as of 10/02/2009 8:06 PM

Source:"http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/02/09/laguna-floods-stay-until-december"