Payatas Estate within the jurisdiction of Quezon City lies at the northeastern part of the city.

Payatas has several creeks, rivers, ravines, and low-lying areas. These natural features and the location of Payatas is economically strategic for the Quezon City government. Once developed into a sound urban community with housing sites, commercial and business centers, light industries, civic centres, educational areas, and recreational parks, Payatas has the potential to generate massive income for the city.

Payatas has an approximate land area of 2,818 hectares. Of this figure, 32% falls within the Novaliches Reservoir (La Mesa Dam). The Payatas Dumpsite comprises much of the 0.78% of the land designated for public utilities. But the people making a living surrounding the dumpsite live in informal settlements that take up approximately 18.4% of the entire estate -- the majority of all occupied land.