Metro Manila to adopt ‘sponge city’ approach amid worsening flood concerns

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) discussed its plans to turn Metro Manila into a “sponge city”, as a long-term solution to flooding problems allowing the city to absorb and store excess water for future use.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes met with officials from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to discuss the integration and potential implementation of the approach.

Under the proposal, the city will promote urban designs that collaborate with nature, such as constructing green buildings and water retention interventions.

This includes permeable pavement, underground reservoirs, wetlands, parks, and green roofs.

Once adopted, the sponge city strategy will become a key component of Metro Manila’s overall flood management framework.

Experts also urged the authorities to adopt the said approach given the unusual intensification of typhoons and rainfall patterns brought by climate change.

According to Cities Expert and Sustainability Advocate Anna Mae Lamentillo, it is crucial for the country to move beyond traditional flood control infrastructure and embrace nature-tied, integrated alternatives.

“Flooding will not be solved by building higher walls or bigger drains alone. We need to design cities that can absorb, store, and reuse rainwater — just like a sponge.” Lamentillo said, emphasizing the need for improvement.

To pioneer the initiative, the MMDA on September 7, formalized the construction of rainwater catch basins in Manila and Quezon Cities to store rainwater and help prevent massive flooding during heavy rainfall.

The agency, together with AIIB, also discussed the procurement of the Flood Management Project Phase 1 which seeks to implement solid waste management programs in Metro Manila communities.

“Sponge City” concept, introduced by Chinese architect and urban planner Kongjian Yu, is set of nature-based solutions designed to make cities act like sponge, sipping and retaining water in times of heavy rains and storms, releasing it slowly afterwards.

The approach has been a widely used concept in innovating flood control frameworks, having Germany as the leading country to adapt among European countries in 2021.