Quezon city: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is considering the construction of a detention basin beneath the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) cloverleaf section in Quezon City. This initiative aims to provide a temporary storage solution for rainwater, which could then be repurposed for household use.

According to Philippines News Agency, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon announced that the facility will be developed in collaboration with NLEX Corp. to address significant flooding issues. Dizon highlighted the importance of securing the right of way with Quezon City authorities to commence construction by the next rainy season. The project is expected to mitigate flooding not only in EDSA but also as far as G. Araneta.

Dizon mentioned that discussions are underway with Metro Manila's water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, to utilize the collected rainwater. This move aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure that stored water is used effectively rather than being wasted. The water collected is intended to be redirected to treatment plants, aiding in both flood control and water supply.

Additionally, Dizon noted plans to expand the size of inlets to further alleviate flooding, which frequently causes severe traffic congestion during storms.

In a related development, Dizon and Bataan 2nd District Representative Abet Garcia met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials, including Director General Nianshan Zhang, to discuss major infrastructure projects. These include the Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control Defense and Coastal Expressway Project and the Sorsogon-Samar Bridge Project. These projects are designed to enhance flood defenses and improve connectivity between Luzon and Visayas, facilitating trade and travel.

President Marcos has instructed the DPWH to collaborate with multilateral development partners to accelerate the completion of these critical infrastructure projects, aiming to improve the living conditions of Filipinos.