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Retarding basin in Imus, Cavite. ABS-CBN News

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Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17882456465971788241569660693.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Retarding basin in Imus, Cavite. ABS-CBN News </div>IMUS CITY, Cavite — Once regularly submerged by severe flooding, Imus City was spared from major inundation during last week’s onslaught of the southwest monsoon, thanks to a massive retarding basin built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Barangay Anabu 1-G, Mayor Alex Advincula said.Advincula said the detention basin provided enormous relief to the city by temporarily collecting excess water from the overflowing Imus River before it could inundate nearby communities.According to the mayor, flooding that previously affected about 45 percent of the area was reduced to just around 10 percent during the recent habagat rains.“Ang laki ng tulong sa bayan namin, especially Palico side namin. Yung Palico side namin, pagkatapos ng habagat na ’yan, may dala na kaming loader, may dala na kaming bulldozer kasi lahat ng putik nagpunta sa kalsada. Naglilinis kami sa kalsada, pero ngayon natutuwa yung mga taga-Palico,” Advincula said.The Imus Retarding Basin was formally turned over on Tuesday by Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, and representatives of JICA to Cavite Governor Francisco Gabriel “Abeng” Remulla, Vice Governor Ramon Vicente “Ram” Revilla Bautista, and Mayor Advincula.The project was completed in 2023 with funding support from a P2.4-billion JICA loan.Covering 35 hectares—equivalent to about 49 soccer fields—the basin can hold up to 1.12 million cubic meters of water, roughly equivalent to the volume of 448 Olympic-sized swimming pools.The facility was designed to reduce peak flood discharge by temporarily storing stormwater and gradually releasing it into the Imus River once river levels subside, helping prevent sudden flooding in downstream communities.Dizon said the project demonstrates how retarding basins can provide a more effective solution to recurring flooding.“Dati sa Imus, umaabot hanggang dibdib ang baha. Noong itinayo ito at iba pang mga retarding basin, dahil yung tubig galing sa main river dito sa Imus River ay mayroon nang pinupuntahan at hindi na nag-o-overflow sa mga kalsada, sa mga bahay at komunidad. Dito na naiimbak, halos wala nang baha”  Dizon said.Remulla, who was governor of Cavite when the project was initiated, described retarding basins as one of the best solutions to the country’s flooding problem.He said local and national government officials should work together to build similar facilities in heavily flood-prone areas across the Philippines.“Kung magagawa lang natin ito sa buong Pilipinas—sa Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, sa lahat ng grabeng binabaha—mawawala talaga ang baha dito sa Pilipinas. Kailangan magkaisa tayo, mula local hanggang national. Dapat magkaisa kasi marami ang nagbibidahan,” Remulla said.“This is the correct flood control. Revetment, that does not work. You need to put the water somewhere, dapat may paglalagyan. Ito ang ginawa namin sa Cavite. Sana sa lahat ng Pilipinas, magawa natin,” he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/9/taon-taon-na-lang-flooding-displaces-thousands-of-families-in-cavite-2351">&#x27;Taon-taon na lang&#x27;: Flooding displaces thousands of families in Cavite</a></div>Dizon, meanwhile, said political issues have been among the biggest obstacles to constructing retarding basins in other areas, citing the proposed detention basin in Candaba, Pampanga, which failed to materialize.However, following the widespread flooding recently experienced across Luzon, the Imus Retarding Basin is now expected to serve as a model for similar projects planned in Pampanga and other flood-prone areas.“Ang nangyari doon, puro away at puro salita lang. Sabi nga ng Pangulo sa amin ni Sec. Jonvic kagabi, dami-daming plano, now it’s time to execute. So ’yun ang marching order ng Pangulo,” Dizon said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/no-funding-for-new-flood-control-projects-in-2027-senate-budget-panel-chair-1328">No funding for new flood control projects in 2027—Senate budget panel chair </a></div>JICA Chief Representative Baba Takashi praised the unity and cooperation of Cavite’s local officials in making the retarding basin project possible.“This is a good example for future damage control projects. I hope this is a good milestone to expand this good model nationwide, and we hope that as JICA, we will continue to be a good partner for the Philippines,” he said.Aside from the Imus Retarding Basin, JICA has also constructed the 41-hectare General Trias Retarding Basin I and the 20.3-hectare General Trias Retarding Basin II, while the Bacoor Retarding Basin is also already benefiting surrounding communities.More projects are being proposed, including a second 35-hectare retarding basin in Imus City and a nine-hectare retarding basin in Bacoor City.When there is no flooding, Governor Remulla said the Imus Retarding Basin could also be developed into a public space or people’s park, with possible facilities such as football and baseball fields. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/27/batang-lalaki-nalunod-sa-dagat-sa-cavite-city-0747">Batang lalaki, nalunod sa dagat sa Cavite City </a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYzipkzNy7c">Gov&#x27;t to build water cisterns, detention ponds to solve floods—MMDA </a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/29/flooding-hits-parts-of-metro-manila-as-habagat-rains-persist-0839">Flooding hits parts of Metro Manila as Habagat rains persist </a></div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iYzipkzNy7c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Once regularly submerged by severe flooding, Imus City was spared from major inundation during last week’s onslaught of the southwest monsoon, thanks to a massive retarding basin built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Barangay Anabu 1-G, Mayor Alex Advincula said.

Once regularly submerged by severe flooding, Imus City was spared from major inundation during last week’s onslaught of the southwest monsoon, thanks to a massive retarding basin built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Barangay Anabu 1-G, Mayor Alex Advincula said.

Retarding basin reduces flooding in Imus, set as model for planned Central Luzon detention basins

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Retarding basin reduces flooding in Imus, set as model for planned Central Luzon detention basins

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 01, 2026 02:56 PM PHT

Read More:

floods

Cavite

detention basin

retarding basin

weather

habagat

rains

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