The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collaborated with Haskoning, an international consulting engineering company, to identify viable locations for rain catchments across Metro Manila to mitigate flooding.

According to MMDA Chairman Atty. Romado Artes, the solution that may help to mitigate flooding during heavy rains is to establish a sponge city or a nature-based solution.

“With the advent po ng climate change, extreme weather conditions, heavy downpour or yung malalakas talaga na buhos ng ulan, hindi na dapat i-control yung tubig; hindi na dapat labanan, kundi dapat po ay i-manage. At iyan po yung purpose ng sponge city and nature-based solution,” he said

[“With the advent of climate change, extreme weather conditions, heavy downpours, we should not just control the water; we should no longer fight, but manage, and that is the purpose of sponge city and nature-based solution.”]

According to Atty. Artes, there are 39 potential sites for rain catchment installations across Metro Manila, and each cities in Metro Manila have at least two to three prospective locations to install the facility.

The MMDA has also designated key priority sites targeted to be completed by mid-2027, including: Miriam College Openfield, Camp Aguinaldo, Rajah Sulayman Park, Remedios Circle, and UP Sunken Garden

“Ang principle po niyan, i-hold muna yung tubig pansamantala sa source nila para po hindi ma-overwhelm yung atin pong mga drainage system, yung atin pong river system at ating mga estero,” Atty. Artes said

[“The principle there is to temporarily hold water at the source to prevent overwhelming our drainage systems, river system, and waterways.”]

The MMDA aims to complete all 39 rain catchments by the end of 2027, and the anticipated budget of 200 million USD will come from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

However, Atty. Artes clarified that the agency cannot guarantee a completely flood-free region due to worsening rainfall volume.

“We cannot guarantee flood-free Metro Manila because nakita niyo naman po 'yung mga rainfall events natin na palakas nang palakas,” Atty. Artes said

Yet, the chairman assured the public that the project will effectively mitigate the floods.

“Pero what we can assure you is ito pong mga projects na to will be efficient in mitigating yung flood, may epekto at hindi po masasayang yung pera ng tao,” he said

[“What we can assure you is that these projects will be efficient in mitigating floods, have effects, and will not waste public funds.”]

With reports from JP Nuñez

‍