San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to clean up rivers in and around Metro Manila. The conglomerate has successfully removed a total of six million metric tons of silt and solid waste from various river systems.
The recent cleanup operations in Bulacan province alone resulted in the extraction of over three million tons of waste from more than 50 kilometers of rivers. These rivers flow through cities and towns in Bulacan, including Meycauayan, Obando, Bulakan, Bocaue, Marilao, Balagtas, and Guiguinto.
This cleanup initiative is part of SMC’s long-term commitment to addressing pollution in river systems like the Pasig, Tullahan, and San Juan rivers. Since 2020, SMC has removed almost 1.2 million metric tons of waste from the Pasig River, 1.1 million metric tons from the Tullahan River, and nearly 320,000 tons from the San Juan River.
In partnership with government agencies and local government units, SMC has expanded its cleanup efforts to other provinces and cities, including Pampanga, Navotas, Laguna, and Cavite. The cleanup of the San Isidro River in San Pedro, Laguna, has already resulted in the removal of over 343,000 tons of silt and waste.
SMC is now preparing to desilt the heavily polluted Pampanga River, which is a significant factor contributing to flooding in Bulacan and nearby areas. The company’s president and CEO, Ramon Ang, expressed gratitude for the support of partner agencies and highlighted the hard work of SMC’s river cleanup teams.
The cleanup efforts in Bulacan are particularly crucial, given the province’s history of flooding. Factors such as low-lying locations, land subsidence, silted and polluted rivers, and obstructed floodwater flow have made Bulacan prone to floods. SMC’s initiatives aim to deepen the rivers and improve their capacity to manage floodwaters efficiently.
Various rivers in Bulacan have already been cleared of silt and waste, with ongoing cleanup operations in progress. SMC’s commitment to addressing Bulacan’s flooding issues is aligned with its investments in the province, including infrastructure projects like the MRT-7 and the new Manila International Airport.
