Quezon City’s sustained investments in flood mitigation and climate adaptation are showing measurable gains, with the number of families forced to evacuate during the latest intensified Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) dropping by about 80 percent compared with last year.
During the onset of Habagat on July 23, 2025, the City recorded 10,576 affected families, or 35,847 individuals, in evacuation centers. As of August 11, 2026, this had declined to 2,146 families, or 8,220 individuals, despite heavy rains and flooding brought by the intensified Habagat from August 2 to 11.
The Quezon City government attributed the improvement to continuing investments in science-based flood mitigation infrastructure, stronger disaster preparedness and response, and close coordination with national government agencies.
“The significant reduction in the number of evacuees and the performance of our flood mitigation measures are encouraging signs that our investments are making a difference.”
“Our priority has always been to protect the lives of our QCitizens. The significant reduction in the number of evacuees and the performance of our flood mitigation measures are encouraging signs that our investments are making a difference,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“But our work is far from over. We will continue investing in flood mitigation and climate adaptation, strengthening our disaster response, and ensuring that when extreme weather strikes, the City is ready to protect and assist our communities. Zero casualty is always our goal,” Belmonte added.
“We will continue investing in flood mitigation and climate adaptation, strengthening our disaster response, and ensuring that when extreme weather strikes, the City is ready to protect and assist our communities.”
Through the Quezon City Department of Engineering (QCDE), the local government has steadily expanded its network of detention basins, retention ponds, flap gates, restored waterways and improved drainage systems as part of the QC Drainage Masterplan.
Among the most significant gains were recorded along G. Araneta Avenue, one of the city’s known flood-prone areas.
The QC government is constructing three detention basins at the intersections of N.S. Amoranto Avenue, Maria Clara Street and Mauban Street. Even before their completion, the facilities were already able to temporarily store around 2,990 cubic meters of floodwater during the recent rains—58 percent of their total designed capacity.
Once completed, the three basins will be capable of holding a combined 5,140 cubic meters of stormwater, equivalent to roughly two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
QCDE also observed improvements in the depth and duration of flooding along G. Araneta Avenue, resulting from the combined interventions of the City Government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The QC government has also installed five flap gates at critical outfalls along Araneta Creek to prevent creek water from flowing back into the drainage system during heavy rains.
At the Quezon Memorial Circle, the recently completed retention pond and detention basin similarly helped manage excess rainwater during the onset of the Habagat, demonstrating how infrastructure innovations and nature-based solutions can complement conventional flood-control measures.
Detention basins constructed beneath covered courts are likewise helping protect communities while maximizing limited urban space. No flooding was reported in Barangays Sta. Monica and Tandang Sora near recently completed detention basin facilities during the recent rains.
The ongoing Doña Carmen Creek Restoration project is also aimed at restoring the waterway and improving drainage capacity in surrounding communities.
In coordination with the DPWH, the QC government conducted dredging and pumping operations to accelerate the removal of floodwater and discharge it into the San Juan River. City pumping operations have a capacity of up to 3,480 cubic meters, while QCDE teams were deployed for drainage clearing and declogging in affected areas.
The QC government is complementing these infrastructure investments with stronger disaster preparedness and climate adaptation measures.
Throughout the Habagat, the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (QCDRRMD) remained on heightened alert, coordinating disaster monitoring, emergency response, evacuation and assistance operations.
Quezon City is also expanding dedicated evacuation facilities in identified flood plains.
Its fully equipped five-storey evacuation center in Barangay Bagong Silangan can accommodate more than 500 families and includes sleeping quarters, shower and bathroom facilities, an elevator, covered court and command center.
While infrastructure helped reduce the impact of flooding, City departments mobilized to assist more than 2,000 affected families.
The Social Services Development Department (SSDD) managed evacuation centers and provided hot meals, food packs, starter kits and other essential assistance. Breastfeeding stations and child-friendly spaces were also established to address the needs of mothers and children.
The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) deployed health personnel and provided hygiene kits, medicines, vitamins, tetanus toxoid vaccines and doxycycline for residents and responders exposed to floodwaters, while strengthening disease-prevention measures in affected communities and evacuation centers.
Recognizing that pets are part of QC families, the City Veterinary Department (CVD) established a dedicated pet evacuation area, allowing residents to bring their companion animals to safety. Veterinary consultations, prescriptions and medicines were also provided.
The results of the latest Habagat response reflect Quezon City’s continuing shift from simply responding to disasters to reducing risk before disasters happen—combining science-based infrastructure, climate adaptation, emergency preparedness, health and social protection.
The City Government stressed, however, that sustained coordination with the national government remains critical, particularly in areas where flooding is affected by drainage networks, waterways and flood-control systems extending beyond Quezon City’s jurisdiction.
With extreme rainfall events expected to remain a growing climate risk, Quezon City will continue implementing its Drainage Masterplan, expanding flood-mitigation infrastructure and strengthening community preparedness toward its ultimate goal: a more flood-resilient Quezon City with zero casualties during disasters.
