House to probe Ulysses flooding, Magat Dam water release

The House of Representatives will conduct an investigation into the massive flooding that affected Cagayan and Isabela provinces during Typhoon Ulysses.

House Resolution 1348, filed by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, calls for the probe.

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Mark Enverga, has set the investigation for Tuesday next week.

The investigation aims to examine actions taken before, during, and after Typhoon Ulysses, including the circumstances surrounding the rapid inflow of water into the Magat Dam reservoir.

It will also look into the National Irrigation Administration's decision to open the spillway gates of Magat Dam and whether this complied with established guidelines.

The proposal highlights the severe and unprecedented nature of the flooding, the Philippines' vulnerability to natural disasters, and the need for preventative measures.