By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Three new rainwater impounding facilities will rise in Manila as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the city government step up efforts to reduce flooding in the capital.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno formalized the partnership on October 6, with the projects targeted for completion by June 30, 2027, ahead of the next rainy season.
The facilities will be built at Rajah Sulayman Park, Remedios Circle and ASEAN Garden inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex near the Vito Cruz drainage main outfall.
The sites were identified through technical studies conducted by Haskoning, which assessed their suitability based on recurring flooding and drainage conditions.
The Rajah Sulayman facility will provide underground storage for excess stormwater, while the Remedios Circle project will combine rainwater detention with drainage upgrades and nature-based solutions.
At ASEAN Garden, the facility will capture floodwaters from the Vito Cruz catchment through the drainage system along P. Ocampo Street.
The projects are designed to temporarily hold excess rainwater during heavy downpours, reduce pressure on Manila’s drainage network and lessen flooding in nearby communities.
Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has begun discussions with University of Santo Tomas officials on a proposed underground stormwater detention basin inside the campus to address persistent flooding along España Boulevard.
The initiatives signal a shift toward holding floodwater before it overwhelms the city’s drainage system.
ia/xf
