Araneta Avenue Gets Bigger Drainage System After Years of Flooding
In what used to be one of the most flood-prone corridors in the metro.
Published on Feb 26, 2026
(SPOT.ph) Araneta Avenue has built quite a reputation over the years for intense flooding—usually bad enough to stall traffic entirely. That familiar scene might be less common now following months of massive drainage works meant to address the problem.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the new drainage is roughly three times larger than what was there before. It involved replacing undersized pipes with bigger, modern ones meant to move water faster underground. Crews also patched the road surface, repaired manholes, and reset sidewalks.
The work began early in 2025 as part of the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative, which aims to strengthen flood control infrastructure across Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Araneta Avenue sits in one of the most flood-prone zones in Metro Manila. This is because the road runs near Talayan Creek and the San Juan River, two waterways that are notorious for overflowing during heavy rains.
No more flooding in Araneta Avenue?
Plans are also underway to install a pumping station near E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue that will serve as the outfall for the upgraded drains, directing stormwater into the San Juan River instead of letting it back up under the road. The facility is expected to be completed by May.
“The President said we need to speed up the work because come June, it will rain again, it will flood again. So now, that’s what we are really doing, our work is continuous so we can ensure that these projects are completed on time,” DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said during a recent inspection.
Araneta Avenue flooding isn’t just tied to just one or two storms. For nearby residents, it’s almost an annual thing during habagat season. When the rains are heavy, parts of the road become difficult—sometimes impossible—to pass, with water levels rising high enough to stall vehicles and force people to wait it out. In 2024, one bus was even left completely submerged.
After the water goes down, the usual aftermath follows: mud on the pavement and trash clinging to walls and railings, with more debris pushed to the side of the road. The hope is that this stretch won’t flood the way it used to.
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself on a pole or doting on her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.