Answer:

Typhoo Ulysses (Vamco) ravaged several parts of Luzon when it struck the country from November 11 to 12.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 3.67 million people have been affected by the floods, with about 277,000 people displaced and at least 73 deaths as of November 19. On top of this, more than 67,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by floodwaters and strong winds.

Cagayan, a province located in the Cagayan Valley region and the northeastern tip of Luzon, is one of the areas hit the hardest. Ulysses brought what is now known as the “worst flooding” in the region in decades, according to Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba.

Several factors caused the flooding. Aside from being the catch basin of rainwater from Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the opening of the floodgates of the nearby Magat Dam is also seen as a cause of the massive flooding in Cagayan.

Previous tropical cyclones had also contributed to the situation. When Ulysses entered the Philippine area of responsibility, Luzon had been previously struck by 4 other typhoons – one of which was a super typhoon (Rolly).

The NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (Mariis), the operator of Magat Dam, said the successive typhoons contributed to high inflows. The Cagayan River had also reached its maximum capacity, which caused overflows. On top of this, the nearby mountain ranges became so saturated that they could no longer absorb as much rainfall as they normally could, causing rainfall to flow directly to the reservoirs.

On November 12, NIA-Mariis released water through 7 gates to prevent Magat Dam from overflowing. The gates remained open until November 13, releasing 6,244 cubic meters of water per second.

This extreme damage to the province prompted both the House of Representatives and the Senate to probe the incident separately. While House Resolution No. 1348 focused on Magat Dam, the Senate Resolution No. 570 mentioned the Ipo, Ambuklao, and Binga dams. (READ: In massive Cagayan flooding, Robredo backs probe into Magat Dam protocol)

Here are some of the key points likely to be discussed during the hearings. Check them out to get a better grasp of what happened and prepare for disasters to come.

Are the protocols for dam discharge enough?

The Magat Dam protocol says there should be a drawdown 2 to 3 days before the expected landfall of a typhoon. Concerned agencies such as the affected local government units, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine National Police, non-governmental agencies, and the media should also be informed.

NIA-Mariis maintained that they adhered to protocols by advising residents of Cagayan and Isabela about its water release to maintain safe water levels as early as November 9, or two days before Ulysses first hit land in the country. They also said the water discharge was necessary to prevent bigger damage.

Explanation:

brainliest poh