Public spaces now double as flood‑control facilities in QC
By Trixee Rosel
Published Aug 28, 2026 05:22 pm
The newly opened multi-purpose open field at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC), which serves as a venue for sports, leisure, and community activities. (Photo courtesy of the Quezon City government)
Quezon City is using two public spaces as flood-control facilities capable of collectively storing approximately 14,169.5 cubic meters of rainwater to help reduce flooding during the rainy season.
The capacity comes from the newly inaugurated Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) Open Field and the lagoon within the Quezon City Hall complex.
The 12,000-square-meter QMC Open Field features a retention pond, detention tank, and basin designed to collect excess floodwater from the park and portions of the adjacent Elliptical Road.
These facilities can store up to 1,119.5 cubic meters of water, equivalent to approximately 5,597 commonly used blue drums, helping reduce the volume and speed of stormwater flowing into surrounding drainage systems.
The open field also has a wide green area that allows rainwater to be absorbed naturally into the ground.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the projects are part of the city’s continuing investment in the QC Drainage Master Plan to protect residents and businesses, reduce flooding, and make the city safer and more climate-resilient.
“Flood control is not only about building bigger and harder infrastructure. It is also about creating more spaces that can hold, absorb, and manage water before it overwhelms our communities,” Belmonte said.
The city government is also using the lagoon within the City Hall complex as a retention pond that can store approximately 13,050 cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to more than five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The collected and filtered rainwater is reused for the city’s greening initiatives and toilet flushing in city-owned facilities, helping conserve potable water while reducing runoff.
During recent periods of heavy rain, the city government observed reduced flooding along portions of the Elliptical Road, where the QMC retention pond helped manage and temporarily store excess stormwater.
The QMC Open Field and City Hall lagoon demonstrate how public spaces can serve both flood-control and recreational purposes while helping manage excess rainwater.