A Reddit user has proposed converting the long-abandoned EDSA-Ortigas excavation site into an underground stormwater detention tank with a park on top. The proposal is currently being discussed on the r/Philippines subreddit. This proposal matters to Metro Manila residents because it offers a creative solution to chronic flooding and reclaims a decades-old eyesore. If adopted, it could improve drainage along EDSA and provide much-needed green space in a dense urban area. The proposal suggests using the hole as a detention tank to serve as EDSA’s main drainage, with a park at ground level. No official plans or cost estimates have been announced; it remains a community-driven idea. Residents can join the discussion on Reddit to share their views.
Background
The EDSA-Ortigas hole is a notorious open excavation in Mandaluyong that has remained unfinished for decades, becoming a symbol of stalled infrastructure projects in the Philippines. Underground detention tanks are a common stormwater management solution in urban areas, particularly in Chinese cities where they are known as 雨水调蓄池. The idea of converting the hole into such a facility aligns with global best practices for urban flood control.
Source: Reddit Community Discussion