SIGNIFICANT cultural structures across the University could be at risk if flood-control projects are implemented on campus, heritage conservation experts said.
In August 2025, the idea of digging underground rainwater catch basins across the campus was revived by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
READ: Isko, MMDA revive underground storm catch basin plan; UST non-committal | The Varsitarian
The University houses five National Cultural Treasures, four of which are structures: the Main Building, Arch of the Centuries, Central Seminary, and the Grandstand and Open Spaces.
Constructing flood control infrastructure in these areas could affect not only their physical integrity but also their cultural significance, however.
In 2010, the four UST sites were declared National Cultural Treasures in time for the University’s Quadricentennial celebration. The designation grants them protection under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
According to National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman and Executive Director Eric Zerrudo, repurposing these heritage sites would be a lengthy and complex process.
“You cannot touch basta-basta ang isang national treasure and suddenly i-repurpose mo siya,” Zerrudo said.
“The University would have to write the NCCA to petition for the lifting of the declaration,” Zerrudo, the cultural heritage program lead of the UST Graduate School, added.
Heritage conservation expert Mary Ann Bulanadi said thorough research was needed to weigh the project’s benefits against potential damage to cultural sites.
“Dapat talaga pag-aralan mabuti. Hindi lang puwede basta-basta na lang ito gagalawin and operate the cistern,” Bulanadi told the Varsitarian.
The proposed cistern or catch basin beneath UST’s 21-hectare campus will have a capacity of up to 72,000 cubic meters, enough, as proponents said, to store stormwater and ease flooding on España Boulevard and nearby areas.
According to discussion materials obtained by the Varsitarian, two possible sites were identified: Plaza de Benavides and the UST Open Field.
The Open Field has hosted major religious gatherings, including the 1995 World Youth Day, and Masses led by Blessed Paul VI, Saint John Paul II, and Pope Francis.
Commenting on the proposal’s structural implications, Asst. Prof. Rino Fernandez said grass would be difficult to sustain above underground concrete structures.
“Hindi na magagamit ‘yong grass sa ibabaw ng field dahil mahirap na itong mabuhay if planted above a concrete slab,” Fernandez said.
Bulanadi echoed the concern, noting that areas tied to historical events risked losing cultural integrity if construction plans pushed through.
“Even with assurances to restore the field to its original state, construction will inevitably alter the site,” she said.
“The realization of the project would mean years of construction, resulting in significant noise, traffic within the University, and disruption to daily campus life,” Bulanadi added.
‘Logical alternatives’
More than a decade has passed since the University rejected a government proposal to build a cistern beneath the UST field.
UST’s refusal prompted President Benigno Aquino III to indirectly reference the issue in his 2015 State of the Nation Address.
READ: Aquino: ‘Big university’ opposed Manila flood-control project | The Varsitarian
Architect Felicismo Tejuco Jr., an urban planner and faculty member at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila, said floodwater storage alone would not solve Metro Manila’s flooding problem.
“Other planners and engineers have already pointed out that a holistic and comprehensive water and land-use management plan is needed for Metro Manila,” Tejuco said.
Zerrudo said such structures could serve dual purposes, depending on their design.
“Hindi lang siya catch basin throughout the year. Kapag hindi ginagamit, puwede itong magsilbing massive parking area,” he said.
On Jan. 7, the Quezon City government opened a basketball court designed to double as a catch basin, which officials said would reduce flooding in low-lying areas.
However, Zerrudo said other sites could be more appropriate for large-scale flood infrastructure, such as the Intramuros Golf Course, which historically functioned as a moat for the walled city.
“The golf course was previously a moat, and its significance was tied to the historical setting of the walls,” Zerrudo said.
READ: UST begins final phase of stormwater drainage system upgrade | The Varsitarian
In 2024, the Facilities and Management Office completed upgrades to the University’s stormwater drainage system, now covering nearly all campus roads. With reports from Ralent M. Penilla
