Megaworld touts flooding solution in Pampanga township

To replicate model in other estates nationwide

MANILA, Philippines —  Flood control? Tycoon Kevin Tan says property giant Megaworld has a solution in its townships to address flooding woes.

In a video posted on his social media page, Tan, president and CEO of conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc., bared plans to bring Megaworld’s Rainwater Park model to more townships nationwide to help in solving flooding problems.

Tan showcased the success of the Rainwater Park in Capital Town, a 35-hectare township developed by Megaworld in Pampanga, in helping prevent flooding in the surrounding communities.

“Before we started developing the area, when it rained, the area around the capital building would flood, and the flooding would reach waist high, and it would take up to a week for the flood to subside. It was really a terrible inconvenience for the community around,” Tan said.

“When we started planning this township, we took that into mind and we wanted it to be a solution to that problem,” he said.

Megaworld developed in the middle of Capital Town a two-hectare area called the Rainwater Park.

Tan said that its main feature is the water retention facility surrounding the entire park.

Because of the Rainwater Park, Tan said the area around Capital Town no longer experiences flooding.

“So when it rains around the city, water is actually collected by our box culverts and brought here to this Rainwater Park. When it stops raining and the sun comes out, the water is slowly drained into our river systems,” he said.

Tan said the water retention facility holds 3.7 million gallons of water, equivalent to six Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“This water retention facility is connected to the entirety of San Fernando City. Other water retention facilities are normally underground, but what we had decided to do was create a water retention facility that is above ground and make it like into a lagoon where people can enjoy water activities like kayaking, fishing and other things,” Tan said.

“We made it into a park, a community center, where people can converge and the community can really enjoy. We’ve developed a jogging path, we have a football field, we have a playground. So right now, this Rainwater Park has actually become quite a tourist attraction,” he said.

With flood control remaining one of the greatest priorities in the country, Tan said that Megaworld is committed to turning this challenge into an opportunity by integrating meaningful solutions into its townships.

“This is a model that we intend to build in many of our townships. The next township we will be building this will be in our township in Marilao and Bocaue in Bulacan. And we also plan to build this in some of our townships in Cavite and in other areas where flooding is a concern,” Tan said

“It’s really the centerpiece of what Megaworld is always trying to do. This is a good example of how the private sector and the government can work together, come up with a meaningful solution as well as create opportunity for people to converge and for the community to come together,” he said.