Environment champion

Championing the environment has not been cheap for San Miguel Corp. (SMC). It has also been a thankless job.

After spending billions of pesos to clean up the Pasig River, Tullahan River and San Juan River, SMC has now shifted its river rehabilitation efforts to Bulacan. The company plans to clean up rivers in the Bulacan-Obando-Meycauayan-Marilao-Bocaue-Guiguinto River System which is critical in addressing flooding throughout the southern part of Bulacan.

While SMC’s flood mitigation program for Bulacan initially covered rivers surrounding the future site of its mega project, the New Manila International Airport, it was expanded to other tributaries outside of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System upon the request of local government units in the province.

In addition, it has started conducting bathymetric studies at the Pampanga River, following the completion of river studies in another catch basin in Bulacan. These studies will assess the depth of water across the river channels and determine the shallow areas that restrict the flow of water through both provinces before reaching Manila Bay.

SMC noted that heavy siltation and pollution in these rivers are major contributors to the widespread flooding in both Bulacan and Pampanga.

According to SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang, siltation and pollution have made many rivers narrow, shallow and less capable of handling large volumes of floodwater, leading to severe flooding in adjacent areas.

To date, SMC’s river clean-up program has removed over four million metric tons of silt and waste, with the expanded Bulacan river cleanup hitting already the two-million mark.

Just recently, SMC subsidiary San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI) has inaugurated another pioneering initiative – the first and the largest scale biodiversity offset project in the country, according to no less than Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Biodiversity offsets are measurable conservation outcomes that result from actions designed to compensate for biodiversity loss from development projects and are intended to be implemented only after reasonable steps have been taken to avoid and minimize biodiversity loss at a development site, according to the OECD.

SMAI launched its Saribuhay sa Dampalit project in Brgy. Pamarawan, Malolos, Bulacan, which also marks the launch of the Philippines’ first Biodiversity Offset Program (BOP) which is part of the company’s nature-based solutions to building its Bulacan airport.

The pilot BOP site in Pamarawan covers 40 hectares, with plans to expand to 800 hectares of offset sites across various areas.

According to Ang, this project is an integrative approach to development that respects and enhances the natural environment alongside SMC’s infrastructure objectives, which is in line with the company’s belief that progress and nature can co-exist, benefiting both the ecosystem and the local community.

The project has provided a rich feeding ground to visiting migratory birds which has been in record number, proof that the offset site constructed by SMAI has successfully provided sufficient food for the shorebirds.

Ang is optimistic that the project will extend beyond wildlife protection, potentially turning the area into a prime location for birdwatching, boosting tourism and creating more opportunities for local communities.

Township flourishes

So many great things are now happening at AcroCity, this newest and biggest commercial and industrial township in Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Covering over 20 hectares, AcroCity which is a project of the Czark Mak (CZM) Group of Companies is envisioned to be a lifestyle hub for the growing needs of the surrounding communities and residents of nearby areas including Metro Manila.

AcroCity, with its strategic location and master planned infrastructure, provides an ideal setting for businesses and professionals to flourish.

CZM executive vice president Caesar Angelo Wongchuking earlier said that their vision is to create a vibrant community at the heart of Bulacan, where businesses thrive, residents flourish, and dreams are realized.

T12 Polo Industrial Estates, a 15-hectare industrial and commercial complex inside AcroCity, celebrated its seventh anniversary last Feb. 22. According to Wongchuking, there are now 95 warehouses in the complex with 80 locators. The facility also has a chiller to store perishables such as vegetables.

AcroCity has also launched its new events place and gazebo area called Ang Hardin, a multifunctional open area where guests can celebrate their milestone events or where they can just experience a fresh breeze as they stroll along the complex.

Meanwhile, Acro Residences, which is the newest budget-friendly business hotel in the heart of Guiguinto and one of the largest in Bulacan, now has 32 rooms. The second and third floors are still being prepared to house more deluxe, queen, twin  and family rooms while the third floor will be where the suite rooms will be located.

Acro Residences’ attractions include Café de Margaux, where the best of Filipino comfort food and French-inspired dishes converge and a Nike outlet.

Then of course there are crowd-drawing restaurants inside AcroCity, also owned and operated by CZM, such as the Mt. Fuji Restaurant for a great Japanese dining experience and Mighty King Restaurant which offers traditional Chinese cuisine.

Meanwhile, NDW Plaza, which was launched seven months back to serve as AcroCity’s community and town center, will open by the third quarter of this year and already has five committed locators.

Wongchuking revealed that other plans for AcroCity include a pool area as well as other commercial establishments. Last year, the group said there are plans to embark on a residential-commercial condominium project within the complex.

The group has allocated around P150 million for its current expansion projects.

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