SMC brings Better Rivers PH initiative to Cebu: Butuanon rehab

CEBU, Philippines — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has expanded its long-running Better Rivers PH initiative to Cebu, officially launching a major cleanup of the Butuanon River in Mandaue City as part of efforts to help reduce flooding under the government's Oplan Kontra Baha program.

SMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang said the company is undertaking the cleanup at no cost to the government, noting the urgency of addressing flooding risks affecting local communities.

“Mandaue has long been home to San Miguel and to generations of our employees, and we are glad to support the government in this effort to help reduce flooding and protect communities,” Ang said in a press statement.

The project will focus on a four-kilometer stretch of the Butuanon River, from its mouth upstream, which has been heavily affected by siltation and waste buildup that have significantly reduced water flow into the Mactan Channel.

The river was among the waterways that overflowed during Typhoon Tino in November 2025, when intense rainfall brought more than a month’s worth of precipitation and triggered widespread flooding across Mandaue City.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which leads the flood-mitigating program Oplan Kontra Baha, and the Mandaue City Government.

According to SMC, the condition of the Butuanon River mirrors that of several previously rehabilitated waterways, where accumulated silt and waste had narrowed river channels and reduced their capacity to carry floodwaters.

The company noted that the river’s mouth is currently partially blocked, restricting outflow toward the Mactan Channel, while upstream sediment deposits risk causing further downstream blockages if not addressed.

San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMBI), which operates the SMB Mandaue Brewery, is supporting the operation by deploying at least six excavators and several barges to remove silt, waste, and soil deposits along the river system.

The program has previously covered major waterways, including the Tullahan, Pasig, San Juan, Pampanga, and Meycauayan rivers, as well as other flood-prone areas in Bulacan, Laguna, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, and Parañaque.

Maintenance operations have also continued in previously cleared rivers to sustain their improved flood-carrying capacity.

“Our work in other rivers has shown that cleanup has to go beyond what people see on the surface. The important part is removing the buildup that has made the river narrower and shallower over time, so it can carry more water during heavy rains,” Ang said.

“With our facilities, people and equipment already in Mandaue, we wanted to put that experience to work in support of the city and its communities,” he added.

The launch, held on Thursday at the Eco Learning Center inside the San Miguel Eco Park in Mandaue, gathered key national and local officials, including Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Charles Calima, and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and SMC business units.

SMC Vice President and Better Rivers PH Overall Project Manager Jimmy O. Lu, along with SMBI Plant Manager Villamor Tuazon and other company representatives, also joined the launch activities.

Since 2020, SMC said it has removed nearly 9.2 million metric tons of silt and waste from more than 190 kilometers of river systems nationwide under the Better Rivers PH program, which has been implemented at no cost to the government or taxpayers.

SMC has also deployed heavy equipment, including modular barges, six excavators, two amphibious excavators, and four backhoe loaders, to undertake the river rehabilitation works.

According to the Mandaue City Public Information Office, the initiative is expected to help reduce flooding risks, improve water flow, and strengthen the city’s flood resilience, particularly in communities along the Butuanon River.

Mayor Ouano and Rep. Ouano-Dizon expressed their gratitude to SMC Chairman Ang, SMC, SMBI, DPWH, and DENR for their commitment to helping address flooding concerns in Mandaue through public-private partnerships.

The project is expected to continue through the coming months as part of a broader effort to create cleaner rivers, safer communities, and a more resilient Mandaue for future generations. — (FREEMAN)