Commitment to saving Philippine rivers runs deep in SMC

MANILA, Philippines — A resolve to protect and clean the country’s major waterways runs deep in San Miguel Corp. (SMC), one of the country’s largest conglomerates.

Recognizing that waterways are essential lifelines that connect communities, protect ecosystems and sustain livelihoods, SMC, led by its chairman and CEO Ramon Ang, has embarked on what appears to be a herculean task of reducing flooding and restoring life in vital waterways.

Since 2020, SMC has led the most extensive river cleanup initiative in the Philippines, with its efforts resulting in the successful cleaning of major river systems in and around Metro Manila, clearing decades of accumulated waste.

Better Rivers PH

The initiative, called Better Rivers PH, is entirely funded by SMC and comes at no cost to the government or taxpayers, the company said.

Ang said that through the program, over 7.6 million metric tons of waste from 127 kilometers of waterways, including the Tullahan, Pasig, San Juan and Bulacan rivers, have been removed.

“While these rivers aren’t fully restored, they are cleaner now and support more life than they have in decades. All of this began with a simple idea: ‘It starts with us.’ Every action, big or small, makes a difference,” he said.

Bulacan rivers

SMC’s extensive cleanup across multiple rivers and waterways in Bulacan alone has resulted in the removal of over 4.2 million tons of silt and waste — the largest volume extracted in the Luzon-wide initiative.

The total volume of waste and silt removed during the Bulacan cleanup has reached about twice the combined volume of what has been extracted from the Pasig and Tullahan rivers.

The Bulacan cleanup has eliminated waste from major rivers, including the Taliptip-Maycapiz-Bambang, Meycauayan, Marilao, Mailad-Sta. Maria, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pamarawan, Kalero and Labangan-Angat Rivers.

Following this success, Ang said the next on the group’s list is the Pampanga River, with plans to extend its massive river cleanup efforts to Biñan, Laguna and Parañaque City.

The tycoon shared that SMC’s river cleanup efforts were crucial and were put to the test during Typhoon Carina, which hit the country last July.

Metro Manila and nearby provinces experienced widespread flooding due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall brought by the typhoon.

“While we were not spared from its impact, the situation could have been far worse. By clearing major waterways of this massive amount of waste, we helped increase the rivers’ capacity to carry floodwaters to Manila Bay, potentially averting a disaster on the scale of Typhoon Ondoy,” Ang said.

However, while SMC’s river cleanup initiative is already making a difference, Ang admitted that the work to restore the country’s rivers is far from over.

“We remain committed to doing our part in building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient future for our kababayans,” he said.

Ang explained that flooding is a complex problem with multiple causes that require various solutions.

He said flooding has worsened due to factors such as low-lying geography, deforestation, garbage clogging waterways, rising sea levels, land subsidence and excessive fishponds.

“We cannot conveniently blame it on one thing when, in fact, the many causes of the problem have already been existing and building up over several generations,” he said.

As such, Ang emphasized the importance of desilting and clearing obstructions in rivers to mitigate flooding.

Communities and citizens are also encouraged to do their part in keeping rivers clean by cutting down on waste, avoiding single-use plastics, joining local river cleanup efforts, planting trees to help prevent erosion and supporting policies and projects that prevent river pollution.

To further intensify its efforts in protecting the health of the country’s waterways, SMC launched a new website in August called BetterRiversPH.

A nationwide movement

BetterRiversPH is a platform designed to inspire a nationwide movement and continue the advocacy that the group has started.

“It showcases San Miguel Corp.’s commitment to cleaning major waterways in and around the metropolis — all at no cost to the government. It’s amazing to see how this initiative has inspired others to join in, from private companies to government agencies,” Ang said.

“Together, we are making progress in removing years of waste, reducing flooding and protecting our communities. Better Rivers PH is for everyone who dreams of cleaner rivers. It’s about raising awareness and taking action. It is a reminder that positive change starts with us,” he added.

Through the initiative, SMC seeks to safeguard communities by mitigating the devastating impact of flooding, protecting lives and livelihoods, while also restoring the natural balance and biodiversity of rivers to ensure they thrive for future generations.

It further aims to promote stewardship by empowering individuals and communities to actively participate in the care and conservation of rivers.

For decades, SMC has made its mark in nation-building with its diversified business that includes investments in fuel and oil, power, food, beverages, packaging, infrastructure and cement, among others.

Looking ahead, the group hopes to make an even more lasting impact by ensuring a healthy and vibrant environment for future generations through its Better Rivers PH advocacy.