Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Pedestrians wade through gutter- to knee-deep floodwaters along España Boulevard in Manila following heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat on Monday, August 17. | via Daniel Jacob, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HABAGAT- FLOODING-MANILA

Harlene Delgado

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/178834123062320260817-habagat-flooding-espana-manila-DJ13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Pedestrians wade through gutter- to knee-deep floodwaters along España Boulevard in Manila following heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat on Monday, August 17. Daniel Jacob, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pedestrians wade through gutter- to knee-deep floodwaters along España Boulevard in Manila following heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat on Monday, August 17. <em>Daniel Jacob, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA – The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the 39 selected sites for water catchment facilities are now ready for execution after years of study and consultation with experts in a bid to address the perennial problem of flooding in the metropolis.</div><p>MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the 520-page feasibility study for the &quot;Sponge City&quot; project has been submitted to them by Haskoning – a Netherlands-based consulting engineering company for the natural and built environment.</p><p>“So, ito pong lahat ng ito ay tatlong taong inaral, kumunsulta po tayo sa eksperto. Iyong Haskoning mismo ang nag-determine na ito pong 39 sites na ito again out of 107 iyong napili dahil ito po ay efficient at makakatulong po talaga sa pagma-manage ng baha doon po sa lugar kung saan sila itatayo,” Artes said in a Palace press briefing Wednesday, September 2.</p><p>The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which also funded the feasibility study, has pledged an initial 200 million US dollars for the project.</p><p>Of the 39 sites, five are identified as &quot;priority projects&quot; which could be funded this year and eyed to be completed by the second half of 2027.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/gov-t-eyes-underground-catchments-as-habagat-affects-1-7m-families-1844">Gov&#x27;t eyes underground catchments as habagat affects 1.7M families</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/39-sites-in-metro-manila-shortlisted-for-water-cisterns-palace-1545">39 sites in Metro Manila shortlisted for water cisterns – Palace</a></div><p>These are Camp Aguinaldo, Miriam College, Remedios Circle, Rajah Sulayman and UP Sunken Garden.</p><p>“Iyong five priority projects na ipi-present po namin kay ES [Executive Secretary Ralph Recto] this Thursday, lima lang po iyong ipi-present namin na tingin namin kaya namin tapusin by June 2027 pero the rest po nitong 39 kung masisimulan po I think we can finish naman po within the year by December 2027,” Artes said.</p><p>The World Economic Forum describes sponge cities as urban areas with abundant natural areas such as trees, lakes and parks or other good designs intended to absorb rain and prevent flooding.</p><p>“Experts say cities need to be designed with this in mind as a growing number of urban areas are experiencing devastating floods due to climate change,” it added.</p><p>Asked what agency will execute the project, the MMDA chairman said MMDA might take the lead with the Department of Public Works and Highways to assist.</p><p>“In so far as 39 sites are concerned, since iyong mga tao po namin na kasama ng Haskoning na nagplano nito at gumawa ng mga designs, baka po siguro sa amin  na ang execution nito and we will assist na lang po iyong DPWH siguro doon sa mga gagawan din ng catchment, outside  of Metro Manila,” he said.</p><p>“What we can assure is, ito pong mga projects na ito will be efficient in mitigating iyon flood, may epekto at hindi  po masasayang iyong pera ng tao,” he added.</p><p>Artes further noted they will study other sites for expansion in the future which “will go beyond this administration.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/9/1/retarding-basin-reduces-flooding-in-imus-set-as-model-for-planned-central-luzon-detention-basins-1456">Retarding basin reduces flooding in Imus, set as model for planned Central Luzon detention basins</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kn6bv8ySs40?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the 39 selected sites for water catchment facilities are now ready for execution after years of study and consultation with experts in a bid to address the perennial problem of flooding in the metropolis.</p>

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the 39 selected sites for water catchment facilities are now ready for execution after years of study and consultation with experts in a bid to address the perennial problem of flooding in the metropolis.

39 water catchment facilities in Metro Manila ‘execution-ready’, completion eyed by end-2027—MMDA

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39 water catchment facilities in Metro Manila ‘execution-ready’, completion eyed by end-2027—MMDA

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 05:37 PM PHT

Read More:

MMDA

water catchment

sponge city

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