Mayor Vico Sotto has placed Pasig City under 'red alert' status at 12:00 noon on Monday, July 21, as water in the Upper Wawa Dam reached its critical level amid continuous rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
In a separate Facebook post, according to the San Mateo Rizal Public Information Office, the said dam has reached its critical water level as of 3:00 p.m., with water rising to 135.58 meters above sea level (masl).
The San Mateo Rizal PIO clarified that the Upper Wawa Dam is a water supply dam, not a flood control facility, and will automatically overflow once it reaches its full supply level.
Sotto earlier said that the dam’s water level had reached 134.06 meters above sea level as of 12 noon.
Authorities are closely watching the situation, as any overflow could result in a sudden rise in water levels along the Marikina River.
“Kapag umapaw ito, siguradong tataas bigla ang tubig sa Marikina River,” Sotto said in a Facebook post.
In response, the city is now coordinating closely with barangays located along the floodway, including Santolan and Sta. Lucia, to prepare for possible evacuations and emergency response.
"Heavy to intense with occasional torrential rains are being experienced in the city due to [the] southwest monsoon (Habagat) and thunderstorm. Expected to continue throughout the day and may persist until tomorrow," he added.
Sotto further urged residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and follow the instructions from their barangay officials or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) if advised to evacuate.
