San Miguel gives hope to Pasig River settlers

CALAUAN, Laguna, Philippines  – Poor people who used to live along the banks of the Pasig River continue to receive not just new homes but a chance at a better life.

Food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has donated P21 million for the construction of a new village inside the Bayanijuan sa Calauan housing project in Barangay Dayap here that will benefit residents relocated from Estero de Paco in Manila.

SMC will sponsor 300 new houses with the amount, which was turned over to the beneficiaries and witnessed by ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez and Calauan Mayor George Berris.

The houses will be completed by December.

Aside from shelter, the beneficiaries will also receive livelihood packages, according to SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang during his visit here last Wednesday.

“We will provide them with livelihood. We will build a poultry farm here and establish a cooperative that would run it,” Ang announced to the delight of the beneficiaries.

The housing project is part of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, a move that aims to rehabilitate the murky river.

Those who have relocated here have started small livelihood projects like handicraft and furniture making and vegetable farming.

Some out-of-school youth were also given free training by the Technology Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in electrical work and other vocational courses.

At present, 271 families from Estero de Paco have been relocated to this former National Housing Authority (NHA) property.

Ang, who was delighted at the progress of the projects, bought 3,000 pieces of bags and picture frames made by the residents.

He also promised to provide basic medical equipment for the village clinic.

The Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig started in March 2008 when the ABS-CBN Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources forged an agreement to rehabilitate the river.