Capitol People’s Park aimed at easing downtown Cebu flooding

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A new park inside the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound is being built to capture rainwater and help reduce flooding in low-lying downtown Cebu while creating a public green space.

Provincial officials said the People’s Park combines flood mitigation, water conservation, and recreation through features designed to absorb, store, and reuse rainwater.

The 2,000-square-meter park broke ground in early July and is expected to be completed by the end of September after a 90-working-day construction period.

READ: Metro Cebu LGUs urged to craft own flood control plans

Designed to capture rainwater

Provincial Planning and Development Office head Elizar Sabinay Jr. said the Capitol’s elevated location makes it suitable for slowing rainwater before it reaches flood-prone areas such as Colon Street.

“The uptown area has higher terrain, so water always goes down to the downtown area. The best way is to capture the water by making public parks and green spaces,” Sabinay told reporters in a mix of Cebuano and English.

Sabinay said the park will use permeable paving blocks that allow rainwater to seep into the ground instead of quickly flowing into drainage systems.

He said the project also replaces animal grass with carabao grass which absorbs and retains more water, helping reduce surface runoff and replenish groundwater.

The design also includes a sunken section that temporarily collects rainwater before directing it into an underground drainage and storage system.

“The water will go to a drainage system connected to a pumping system and a cistern tank, which will supply water to our public comfort rooms in the park,” Sabinay said.

Sustainable public space

Aside from helping manage rainwater, the park is designed as an all-inclusive public space that will remain open 24/7 for recreation and community activities.

The development includes a glass house for government and private meetings, a children’s play area, spaces for senior citizens, a jogging path, a coffee shop, and public comfort rooms.

READ: Mananga, Cotcot, Butuanon dams eyed in Cebu by 2027

The park will use solar energy to power its lighting, electric fans, and comfort room ventilation to reduce electricity consumption.

Sabinay said the provincial government allotted around ₱10.3 million for the project.

Model for flood mitigation

Sabinay said the park alone will not eliminate flooding because of its limited size, but it can still help reduce runoff and serve as a model for similar projects.

“If there are a lot of small parks surrounding Cebu City, it will somehow lessen flooding. Flooding is a natural phenomenon, but what we want to prevent is its negative impact that turns into a disaster,” Sabinay said.

He said local government units can adopt similar green infrastructure projects as part of broader flood mitigation efforts.

The People’s Park was among the immediate measures discussed during the first official meeting of the Metro Cebu Flood Control and Drainage System Implementation Task Force on August 5, 2026.

The meeting also introduced a cluster-based approach that encourages local government units across Metro Cebu to take a more active role in flood control and mitigation efforts.

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