CITY OF MALOLOS — San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) ongoing river cleanup program has removed more than 9.12 million metric tons of silt, solid waste and other debris from major waterways since 2020, with the company continuing flood-mitigation work at no cost to the government.
The program, known as Better Rivers PH, is SMC’s voluntary initiative to help restore the depth, width and water-carrying capacity of major river systems so they can drain floodwaters more effectively, particularly in low-lying communities.
The latest figure includes more than 1.04 million metric tons recently cleared from four river systems under maintenance operations aligned with the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha program. The work covered 24.29 kilometers of waterways along the Tullahan River, San Juan River, Laguna rivers and the Bulacan River System.
SMC said the maintenance cleanups are meant to help sustain the gains from earlier Better Rivers PH operations, including cleaner waterways and improved depth, width and water-carrying capacity, while preventing the renewed buildup of waste and silt that can obstruct floodwater flow.
“These river systems were among the waterways covered by our earlier cleanup efforts, but keeping them clear requires continuing maintenance,” SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said. “This latest work, in support of the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha program, is part of our effort to protect the progress we have already made, preserve their water-carrying capacity, and prevent the buildup of waste and silt that can worsen flooding.”
Since 2020, SMC has completed cleanup works across 10 major river systems, including the Bulacan, Pampanga, Pasig, Tullahan, San Juan, Navotas and Laguna river systems, covering a total of 188.48 kilometers of waterways.
The largest volume from the latest maintenance operations came from the Bulacan River System, where SMC removed 710,168 metric tons from 13.38 kilometers of the Maycapiz-Taliptip-Bambang River and the downstream portion of the Meycauayan River.
In the Tullahan River, SMC cleared 144,324 metric tons from 4.37 kilometers of waterways running through Manila, Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan.
SMC also removed 83,289 metric tons from 4.54 kilometers of the San Juan River, covering sections from the Pasig River junction through Mandaluyong and San Juan, up to the Talayan area in Quezon City. The company is also assisting in the partial demolition of a pumping station structure that has been obstructing water flow in Matalahib Creek in Talayan.
In Laguna, operations along the Biñan and San Isidro rivers yielded 107,192 metric tons of silt and waste from two kilometers of waterways.
SMC is also completing works in Parañaque, where 378,288 metric tons have been removed from 9.62 kilometers; the Landayan, San Pedro and Silang-Santa Rosa rivers in Laguna, where 130,679 metric tons have been removed from 1.30 kilometers; and the Alabang River, where 64,837 metric tons have been extracted from 1.03 kilometers.
Other ongoing works include the Las Piñas River System, with 198,477 metric tons cleared from 2.36 kilometers; Tabang River in Bulacan, with 36,838 metric tons removed from 9.30 kilometers; and Tanza River in Navotas, with 10,441 metric tons cleared from 0.38 kilometer.
Last March, SMC also began cleaning the upstream section of the Tullahan River in Quezon City, particularly in the Fairview and Novaliches areas. The company said it has so far removed 51,350 metric tons from 1.5 kilometers of river channel.
Ang said improved water flow and water quality have already been observed in rivers covered by the program, but long-term results will depend on sustained upkeep and public cooperation.
“After cleaning, deepening and widening these waterways, we need everyone’s help to keep them from being clogged again,” Ang said. “Proper waste segregation and disposal will prevent blockages in canals and waterways that should carry rainwater out to the rivers and eventually to Manila Bay. This is one practical way our communities can help reduce flooding during heavy rains.” (UnliNews Online)
