QC opens second basketball court with flood catchment basin
By Trixee Rosel
The Quezon City government strengthened its flood mitigation program on Tuesday, July 7, with the opening of a new multi-purpose basketball court that doubles as a stormwater detention basin in Gloria 2 Subdivision, Barangay Tandang Sora.
The newly opened multi-purpose basketball court with a detention basin in Gloria 2 Subdivision, Barangay Tandang Sora, forms part of Quezon City's continuing flood mitigation program. (Photo courtesy of the Quezon City government)
Mayor Joy Belmonte led the inauguration of the facility together with City Engineer Atty. Dale Perral, District 6 Action Officer Atty. Mark Aldave, officials of Barangay Tandang Sora, and officers of the Gloria 2 Homeowners Association.
Designed under the city's science-based and nature-based flood mitigation initiatives through its Drainage Master Plan developed with the assistance of the UP Resilience Institute, the covered court serves as a sports facility, a stormwater detention basin, and a water harvesting system.
Residents may use the facility for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, Zumba, and other community activities.
Beneath the covered court is a detention basin that can temporarily store up to 1,256 cubic meters of rainwater—equivalent to nearly half of an Olympic-sized swimming pool—during heavy rains to help reduce flooding in nearby communities. The stored water is gradually released once weather conditions improve.
The facility also has two water harvesting tanks with a combined storage capacity of more than 15,000 liters. The collected rainwater is filtered and reused for watering plants and for cleaning equipment and other facilities.
Belmonte said Quezon City now has two basketball courts with detention basins, in addition to the detention basin and retention pond at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
She added that another detention basin is under construction along G. Araneta Avenue as part of the city's continuing flood mitigation program.
Aside from constructing flood mitigation facilities, the city government continues to carry out dredging and declogging operations in rivers and esteros across the city to improve drainage and reduce flood risks.