By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the City of Manila signed a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday for the construction of three Rainwater Impounding Facilities (RIFs) aimed at reducing flood risk in parts of the city.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes and Mayor Isko Moreno led the signing at the MMDA head office in Pasig City.
The three facilities have a target completion date of June 30, 2027, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to complete flood management projects ahead of the next rainy season.
The RIFs will be located at Rajah Sulayman Park, Remedios Circle, and the ASEAN Garden within the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex near the Vito Cruz Drainage Main Outfall.
The sites were identified following technical studies by Haskoning, which assessed their feasibility, particularly in areas that have experienced recurring flooding.
“Our goal is to collaborate with the City of Manila to help relieve flooding in certain areas of Manila. We thank Mayor Isko for the continued support and cooperation of the city government as we work together to implement flood management measures,” Artes said.
The projects are designed to temporarily store excess stormwater during heavy rainfall, ease pressure on existing drainage systems, and reduce flood risks in surrounding communities.
The Rajah Sulayman Park RIF will provide temporary underground or subsurface storage for excess stormwater, while the Remedios Circle project will combine rainwater storage with drainage improvement works and nature-based solutions.
The ASEAN Garden RIF will capture floodwaters coming from the Vito Cruz catchment through the drainage main along P. Ocampo Street. It may also be integrated with a wastewater or sewage treatment facility, which has been studied as a potential measure to help alleviate flooding along Roxas Boulevard and Taft Avenue.
“We are wholeheartedly grateful to the MMDA for the help and the solutions they are providing to address the flooding problem in parts of Manila,” Moreno said.
The proposed RIFs may also be connected to water concessionaires to allow collected rainwater to be utilized for other appropriate purposes, supporting water resource management and conservation.
Through the MOA, the MMDA and the Manila City government reaffirmed their commitment to flood management measures that will strengthen the city’s resilience and protect communities, road users, pedestrians, and establishments in flood-prone areas. (PNA)
FLOOD CONTROL. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes (left) and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno speak to the media at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City on Tuesday (Oct. 6, 2026) after the signing of a memorandum of agreement for three Rainwater Impounding Facilities in the capital city. The RIFs aim to reduce flood risks.
