In a bid to alleviate persistent urban flooding across low-lying districts in the capital, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has initiated the construction of an underground water detention basin beneath Rajah Sulayman Plaza in Manila, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced Tuesday.
The facility is targeted to ease severe flood conditions stretching across Malate, Remedios, and adjacent corridors leading toward Taft Avenue.
Dizon personally inspected the ongoing development of the 4.6-meter-deep underground structure, which is designed with a storage capacity roughly equivalent to one and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Detailing the administration’s directive, Dizon referenced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s urge for rapid execution.
“Sabi ng Pangulo, tama na ang diskusyon, tama na ang salita, aksyon na tayo,” Dizon said, expressing gratitude to the City of Manila and Mayor Isko Moreno for issuing the necessary permits to move the project forward.
The President said, “enough discussion, enough words, let’s take action”.
“Ito ang magse-serve na detention basin para sa area ng Malate, Remedios, papuntang Taft Avenue,” Dizon added, highlighting the spatial scope of the flood-control measure.
Engineered to function during sudden heavy downpours, the detention basin temporarily collects and holds excess rainwater runoff. By buffering the influx of water, the facility prevents local drainage networks from overflowing immediately and mitigates street-level inundation in surrounding areas. Once heavy rainfall subsides, the impounded water is systematically drained into nearby waterways or discharge routes.
The Rajah Sulayman Plaza Detention Basin Project comes as part of a broader mandate issued by President Marcos to construct similar flood-retention facilities across vulnerable areas in Metro Manila, particularly during the intense Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) season.
Similar structures have already been rolled out in neighboring municipalities. Earlier this year, Quezon City launched a dual-purpose basketball court featuring a subterranean detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, alongside an ongoing retention and detention pond project at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
Additionally, operational detention basins built along G. Araneta Avenue and Maria Clara Street have demonstrated measurable results with authorities noting that flood recession times in those areas dropped from up to five hours down to roughly two hours.