The intermittent rains brought by Tropical Depression Carina have been considered a blessing by farmers in Cagayan Valley Region, particularly in Isabela and Cagayan provinces.
Corn farmer Roberto Cabaddu said the rains would at least mitigate the losses from their dry palay and corn farms during the summer months.
“Our parched farms will ease a bit with the rains and we believe it will be more of a blessing,” he said.
The Magat Dam water level on Monday was pegged at 170.23 meters above sea level, which is still 6.59-meter below the operation rule curve, said Carlo Ablan, head of the flood forecasting division of the National Irrigation Administration-Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.
“There is no need to release water as we still need to build up water at the reservoir. We are safe and collecting water for irrigation,” he said.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Northern Luzon weather forecaster Leo Buñag, in a media bulletin Monday morning, said “Carina” was spotted 275 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City with maximum winds of 45-kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gustiness of 55 kph.
Typhoon Signal 1 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of Cagayan including Sta. Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, eastern Lal-lo, eastern Baggao, eastern Gattaran and Sta. Teresita towns. (PNA)
