SMC removes over 330,000 tons of silt and wastes from Parañaque rivers

 

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NAIA flood mitigation, Oplan Kontra-Baha efforts:

 

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is making good on its commitment to support government’s “Oplan Kontra-Baha” program, as its long-running Better Rivers PH river rehabilitation advocacy continued to expand its cleanup of the Paranaque river system — reporting the removal of over 330,000 metric tons of silt and waste from a total of 8 kilometers of river channels since September 2024.

SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said that for the last 16 months, its river cleanup crews have been working non-stop to desilt, clean, and rehabilitate waterways around the airport and other critical areas of the river system.

The program, undertaken in coordination with the City Government under Mayor Edwin Olivarez, aims to improve the drainage of floodwaters from Parañaque out to Manila Bay. This is seen to mitigate flooding not just at the country’s primary international gateway, but also its neighboring communities. 

The initiative also aligns with, and supports government’s Oplan Kontra Baha, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with local government units, and other government agencies.

“We’re determined to continue delivering on our promise to our kababayans in southern Metro Manila — from all the way in Laguna to Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, and Parañaque — that we will improve the flow of water in their rivers to help address their long-standing flooding problems. From the launch of government’s Oplan Kontra-Baha program last November in Parañaque, I’m happy to report that we continue to make steady progress, and solid gains,” he said.

At the Balihatar-San Dionisio Creek, where the multi-agency, multi-stakeholder initiative was launched, Ang said the company has now removed over 21,918 tons of silt and waste from 1.57 kilometers of the waterway.

Work is progressing simultaneously downstream, toward Parañaque, and upstream, toward Las Piñas, Ang said.

Meanwhile, along the main channel of the Parañaque River, SMC’s river cleanup operations have already reached the Pasay area, removing a total of 152,365 tons of silt and wastes from a 3.65-kilometer stretch of the river.

SMC also continues to do cleanup operations at the critical junction of Don Galo River and the San Dionisio and Villanueva creeks — aimed at deepening the channel to increase carrying capacity and outflow to Manila Bay.

These efforts comprise but a small part of SMC’s wider Better Rivers PH initiative, which has been ongoing for six years now. Throughout this time, SMC has been quietly working to clean up major river systems in and around Metro Manila — at no cost to government and taxpayers.

Thus far, it has removed over 8.7 million tons of silt and wastes from the Pasig River, Tullahan River, San Juan River, rivers all over Bulacan province, the Pampanga River, and rivers in Alabang, Laguna, and Navotas.

The total river length it has covered to date is now 176.44 kilometers—making SMC’s efforts evidently the largest of its kind in the country, by far.

PHOTOS:

San Dionisio–Balihatar–Madulas Creek Highlights (Before and After Photo)

San Dionisio–Balihatar–Madulas Creek Dredging Operation

 

Hauling Operation at Parañaque River, Brgy. 190, Pasay area

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