MANILA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is now using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its weather forecasting capabilities, helping predict rainfall levels and minimize the impact of dam water releases on low-lying communities, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said Tuesday.

In a virtual press briefing, Guillen said the agency has adopted an advanced forecasting system that enables it to determine, up to two weeks in advance, whether water must be released from major dams like Magat and Pantabangan.

“Mayroon kasing ginagamit ang NIA ngayon na advanced weather forecasting system na may AI technology. Two weeks nape-predict na po namin kung magre-release kami ng tubig o hindi,” Guillen said.

The agency follows a strict protocol in releasing dam water, issuing advisories two to three hours before the discharge and coordinating with local government units (LGUs). NIA primarily uses social media to warn residents in flood-prone areas.

For larger dams such as Pantabangan, Magat, and Jalaur, Guillen said advisories are typically issued four days to a week before any water release.

To further strengthen its warning system, NIA now operates its own radio station under the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), allowing broader public reach.

Guillen emphasized that releasing water is essential to maintain dam safety. However, despite the recent heavy rains, most high dams under NIA have yet to release water—a positive sign, he said.

So far, only the Ipo Dam, which supplies potable water to Metro Manila, has released water due to the Southwest Monsoon.