Philippines
Metro Manila
Mayor Isko, MMDA meet with UST officials on proposed rain catchment cistern
Mayor Isko, MMDA meet with UST officials on proposed rain catchment cistern
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Don Artes met with officials of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to discuss the Rainwater Impounding Facility (RIF) being eyed to be built on the university's property.
"Bilang isa sa mga paaralan sa University Belt (U-Belt) na madalas maapektuhan ng baha, makatutulong ang pinaplano na proyektong ito upang mabawasan ang pagbaha at magamit muli ang tubig-ulan (As one of the schools in the University Belt that is often affected by floods, this planned project will help reduce flooding and reuse rainwater)," Domagoso said.
The proposed RIF consists of a 10-meter-deep cistern to be built underneath the grounds of UST, which could have a capacity for around 72,000 cubic meters of water equivalent to 30 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Artes said the facility could also be used as a parking area for 400 cars if it's not the rainy season.
"Kung half meter ang baha sa España, ang tubig lang dun sa kabuuang area na binabaha ay 36,000 cubic meters. Pwede talagang ma-hold ang tubig baha temporarily para madaanan ang España (If the flood in España is half a meter, the floodwater in the flooded area in España is equivalent to around 36,000 cubic meters. This means the structure can definitely hold the floodwater temporarily so that motorists and pedestrians can pass through)," Artes said in a radio interview.
“Kami po yung magmi-maintain at mago-operate nung catchment na ‘yun, to ensure na wala pong basura, hindi po pamamahayan ng lamok. At dahil po ito ay heritage conservation site ay inassure po namin ang UST na ibabalik po namin yung kanilang field kung hindi man sa dati ay sa mas maganda pong state (We are the ones who will maintain and operate that catchment to ensure that there will be no garbage in it and it will not be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. And because this is a heritage conservation site, we assured UST that we will restore their field, if not to its previous state, then to a better one)," he added.
The official said the RIF has an estimated time of completion of one and a half years, but it could be shortened to a whole year, as the facility will not be built on public roads.
During the meeting, Fr. Dexter Austria, OP, S.Th.D. of the UST Facilities Management Office said he will consult the UST Board of Trustees regarding the project for additional studies and approval.
Other RIFs in Metro Manila
Artes noted that aside from the proposed RIF in UST, four other underground cisterns are being proposed to be built in different parts of Metro Manila as part of the agency's efforts in eliminating flooding in the region: one in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Raja Solaiman and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, and the Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park in Quezon City.
The planned facility in Camp Aguinaldo has a water storage capacity of over 12 Olympic-size pools. Artes said its construction may start this year.
"Nakikita po namin sa ibang bansa, lalo na po sa mga urban cities na ito na po yung ipinapanlaban nila—Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, rain catchment na po (We can see that in other countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, the rain catchment facilities are their solution to flooding)," the chairman stressed.