“SMC conducts aerial, topographic and bathymetric surveys of the rivers, before plotting the course of action”
“I ask all our kababayans to please help take care of our rivers because they are critical to our health and the health of our environment, economy, and communities. The job of making our rivers better is not just the government’s or the private sector’s responsibility. What happens to our rivers affects us all, so we all have a role to play.”
These words from San Miguel Corporation Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang is a clarion call for all of us to do our share in ensuring the sustainability of waters around us even as the conglomerate undertakes rehabilitating major rivers.
San Miguel Corporation, among private entities involved in rehabilitating major rivers notably in Luzon, has environmental protection programs visible and have yielded positive impact on the environment and on the lives of nearby communities.
In 2020, SMC initiated reviving major river systems which, for decades, were adversely affected by siltation and pollution and became receptacles of garbage—from biodegradable to non-biodegradable.
The rivers were dredged, desilted, deepened and widened to improve their water-carrying capacities as well as reduce foul odor from them. With the rehabilitation came the revival of marine life.
Among recent rivers rehabilitated by SMC is the Biñan River in Laguna, a tributary of Laguna de Bay and one of three rivers of the Biñan micro watershed whose headwater originates from the eastern slopes of the Cavite highlands.
Last month, SMC, in less than a year, completed the Biñan River clean-up. A total 87,899 tons of silt and solid waste were removed from 3.2 kilometers stretch of the Biñan River from the mouth of Laguna Lake near Barangay Dela Paz to Barangay Poblacion.
Barangays nearby had long struggled with recurring floods during the rainy season and high tide, and when there is strong rainfall. With the river clean-up, residents witnessed how floodwaters drained faster into the river.
Four teams equipped with backhoes and barges were dispatched by SMC. Cranes were utilized in portions where barges could not maneuver.
SMC heretofore conducted clean-up activities at San Isidro River in San Pedro, Laguna that resulted in the extraction of 417,044 tons of silt and waste from its 5- km stretch.
“I am very happy that our river clean-up initiative marked another achievement in Laguna, through the help and cooperation of the local government and our other partners,” RSA said.
SMC’s river rehabilitation program, at no cost to the government, through its Better Rivers Ph has, as of March 12, covered 157. 29 kilometers of waterways, and removed 8,248,254 metric tons of silt and solid waste.
SMC conducts aerial, topographic and bathymetric surveys of the rivers, before plotting the course of action.
Rivers that have benefited from SMC’s initiative are Tullahan, Pasig and San Juan in Metro Manila where 1.12 tons of silt and waste were extracted from 10.9 km of the Tullahan River; 1.18 tons from 26 km of the Pasig River; and 322,739 tons from 7.61 km of the San Juan River.
In Central Luzon, 694,372 tons of silt and waste were removed from 26.3 km of the Pampanga River; and 4.13 tons from 74.75 km of the Bulacan River System.
Synchronous with the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by NNIC, SMC’s subsidiary, are the river clean-up activities of Parañaque River near Barangay Tambo, Don Galo River, and Villanueva Creek near Barangay La Huerta located near the airport.
A total 139,158 metric tons of waste and silt have been removed from a 3-km stretch to lessen flooding.
Rehabilitating rivers manifests SMC’s malasakit to the country and the Filipino people. It is SMC’s legacy to future generations who will inherit Mother Earth.
RSA, on the side, warns the public against online scammers using his name and even his picture to entice the public and dupe them into fraudulent investment schemes: “Please don’t fall for these. I am not endorsing any investment schemes. I do not promote, support, or take part in any kind of online investment offer.”
(MTV, book author/publisher, is president/chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. and president/executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a non-government outfit advocating tree-planting and environmental protection.)