Camille Naredo

An underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches. Evart Villar, ABS-CBN News

An underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches.

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767689153279viber_image_2026-01-06_16-26-55-391.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="An underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches. Evart Villar, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches. <em>Evart Villar, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Quezon City government has completed an underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches, as part of its efforts to reduce flooding in communities located near the Tullahan River.</p><p>The project, situated beneath a newly-constructed basketball court in Phase 3 of Palmera Subdivision, is designed to temporarily store rainwater during heavy downpours and prevent immediate overflow into nearby residential areas.</p><p>The facility operates under the same concept as the flood mitigation system in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/7/14/mmda-identifies-49-flood-prone-areas-in-ncr-says-dolomite-beach-affects-flooding-2204">READ: MMDA identifies 49 flood prone areas in NCR</a></div><p>According to the City Department of Engineering, the detention basin can hold up to 1,700 cubic meters of water — equivalent to more than half the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. </p><p>The project cost more than ₱40 million.</p><p>City Engineer Atty. Mark Dale Diamond Perral explained that the basin uses a gravity-based system to manage floodwater.</p><p>When water levels in the Tullahan River are high, runoff from the subdivision is diverted into the basin. Once river levels subside, the stored water is released back into the river.</p><p>&quot;It is a detention basin na nagdi-discharge ng water by gravity lang,&quot; said Perral. &quot;Ang pinaka-function niya, kapag umulan, from the drainage line ng subdivision, doon pupunta sa detention basin natin.&quot; </p><p>(It is a detention basin that discharges water using gravity alone. Its main function is that when it rains, water from the subdivision&#x27;s drainage lines flows into the detention basin.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RESIDENTS&#x27; PLIGHT</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767689188500viber_image_2026-01-06_16-26-54-811.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A newly-constructed basketball court in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches, which features an underground detention basin. Evart Villar, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A newly-constructed basketball court in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches, which features an underground detention basin.<em> Evart Villar, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Barangay Santa Monica has long been prone to flooding, especially during strong typhoons. During Typhoon Carina in 2024, thick mud inundated homes in the area, forcing some residents to evacuate.</p><p>Resident Thess Olave Bebanco recalled the need to pack belongings and leave their home during past flooding incidents.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yong may takot ka po na kailangan magligpit ng gamit, iakyat &#x27;yong kayang maiakyat, tapos po nagpa-pack na rin po kami ng mga damit namin. Lumilikas po talaga kami,&quot; she said.</p><p>(We&#x27;re scared because we have to put your things away, raise whatever you can to higher ground, and we even start packing our clothes. We really end up evacuating.)</p><p>Napoleon Asuncion, president of the Palmera Homeowners Association Phase III, said flooding previously occurred after less than an hour of rain after the project.</p><p>&quot;No&#x27;ng wala pa po itong catch basin na ito, wala pa pong isang oras na ulan eh gatuhod na po &#x27;yong baha,&quot; Asuncion said.</p><p>(Before this catch basin was built, after less than an hour of rain the floodwaters were already knee-deep.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/dpwh-to-finish-drainage-expansion-of-flood-prone-araneta-avenue-by-february-2026-1656">READ: DPWH to finish drainage expansion in flood-prone Araneta Avenue by February 2026</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN</strong></div><p>The detention basin forms part of the city government&#x27;s drainage master plan, developed in partnership with the UP Resilience Institute.</p><p>Another detention basin in Tandang Sora is expected to be completed within the next one to two months.</p><p>Meanwhile, a retention pond at the Quezon Memorial Circle—designed as a green space with permeable walkways and underground water-collecting tanks—is expected to be completed this 2026, according to Perral.</p>

<p>The Quezon City government has completed an underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches, as part of its efforts to reduce flooding in communities located near the Tullahan River.</p>

The Quezon City government has completed an underground detention basin in Barangay Santa Monica, Novaliches, as part of its efforts to reduce flooding in communities located near the Tullahan River.

Quezon City completes underground detention basin to curb flooding in Novaliches

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Quezon City completes underground detention basin to curb flooding in Novaliches

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 06, 2026 04:48 PM PHT

Read More:

flood control

detention basin

Quezon City

Santa Monica

Novaliches

Joy Belmonte

Tullahan River

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