QC Unveils Gravity-Powered Flood Detention Basin Hidden Under Barangay Basketball Court

QUEZON CITY – In a move championed as a model for “science-based infrastructure,” the Quezon City local government has inaugurated a unique dual-purpose facility: a fully functional basketball court that sits atop a massive floodwater detention basin.

Located in Palmera Homes Phase III, Barangay Sta. Monica, the P45-million project was officially opened earlier this month, offering a novel solution to the city’s perennial flooding woes while preserving community recreational spaces.

Innovation Beneath the Hardcourt

While it looks like a standard barangay basketball court on the surface, the infrastructure conceals a 4-meter deep detention basin underground. According to City Engineer Dale Perral, the facility is capable of holding 1,700 cubic meters of floodwater—roughly equivalent to more than half the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The standout feature of the basin is its gravity-based operation, designed without the need for expensive, high-maintenance mechanical pumps.

“Itong detention basin na nilagay natin is actually operated by gravity only. So wala siyang pump, nasa higher level siya,” Perral explained in a report.

The system works by capturing runoff from nearby drainage lines during heavy rains. Once the water level in the nearby Tullahan River subsides, the stored water in the basin is automatically released via gravity, preventing backflow and mitigating knee-deep floods that frequently plague the area and downstream communities.

“Killing Two Birds with One Stone”

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted the practicality of the project, noting that it addresses two critical urban needs: flood management and space for public recreation.

“As the saying goes, ‘kill two birds with one stone,’ that is the result of the basketball court with a detention basin,” Mayor Belmonte said in a statement following the opening. “We thought of this because instead of having separate projects, it might be more feasible and practical to combine them as much as possible.”

Science-Based Planning

Unlike standard infrastructure projects often criticized for arbitrary placement, this facility was the result of a strategic partnership between the Quezon City Government and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) and Project NOAH.

Under the guidance of Dr. Mahar Lagmay, the location and design were determined using combined drainage flow and surface run-off simulations. This data-driven approach ensures the basin is situated exactly where it can most effectively reduce flood risks as part of the city’s Master Drainage Plan.

Future Projects

The Barangay Sta. Monica facility is just the beginning. The City Engineering Office has announced that similar multi-purpose detention basins are currently in the pipeline, including an upcoming project in Tandang Sora and a retention pond within the Quezon Memorial Circle.

This initiative, solely funded and implemented by the LGU, sets a new benchmark for local urban planning—proving that flood control infrastructure need not be an eyesore, but can literally serve as the foundation for community life.