“Bakit pa tayo gagawa ng kung anu-anong ‘giant solution’?”
These words, uttered by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, encapsulate the biggest irony of the recent scandals regarding billions of pesos allegedly wasted on substandard (and ghost) flood-control projects.
For him, the long-term solution to the problem of flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is simple: clean up the metropolis’ main waterways.
Ang’s solution has been demonstrated not just in words, but in deeds, through SMC’s Better Rivers PH initiative.
And this month, the business tycoon officially made good on his bold promise last August: to clean up Laguna’s rivers, at no cost at all to the national government.
Last Friday, November 7, the SMC chairman signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Laguna Governor Sol Aragones that formalized the details of widespread dredging and cleanup operations in the province.
The MOA signing was witnessed by a delegation of mayors and other local officials from Laguna, including Biñan City Representative Arman Dimaguila, Cabuyao City Mayor Dennis Hain, Los Baños Mayor Neil Andrew Nocon, Santa Cruz Mayor Benjo Agarao, and others.
Dimaguila was present at the event as part of his efforts to convince national and local government officials of the urgent need to conduct dredging operations in Laguna de Bay.
It was a welcome gift not only for Aragones, who happened to be celebrating her birthday on that day, but also for local officials who had clamored for long-term solutions to the flooding problem.
Expansion
Under the agreement, SMC will expand its dredging and cleanup operations to cover all rivers and waterways in the province.
The business conglomerate pledges to clean and restore major river systems in Biñan, Cabuyao, San Pedro and Sta. Rosa, including their tributaries, to their natural depth and width to improve water flow into Laguna de Bay.
“Tututukan ng proyekto ang paglilinis at pagpapalalim ng mga ilog at daluyan ng tubig sa iba’t ibang bayan upang makontrol at maiwasan ang pagbaha, problemang matagal nang pinapasan ng mga Lagunense,” the Laguna Provincial Information Office said in a press release.
Repeating his earlier pledge, Ang reiterated that this massive undertaking will be conducted with no cost to the government or taxpayers.
“The company will shoulder all costs of dredging, fuel, logistics and labor,” SMC emphasized in a separate press release.
Success
The MOA signing comes on the heels of the success of the Better Rivers PH initiative’s efforts to clean up four rivers in Laguna province since 2023.
As of last October, the "Better Rivers PH" initiative has removed 568,000 tons of silt and waste from nearly 10 kilometers of river channels in the province.
Through the initiative, residents living near San Isidro River, Tunasan River and Landayan River (in San Pedro City) and Biñan River now need not fear for their safety during heavy rains.
“Ang kailangan na lang po natin ay continuous maintenance every year, dahil po marami pong lupa na nanggagaling sa Cavite na bumababa sa ilog – at kung minsan po, may mga basura pa,” Ang reported during the MOA signing.
Common-sense solutions
Amid public anger over the billions of pesos wasted in substandard flood control projects, Ang expressed his belief that what is needed are “common sense” solutions that are not only effective but also cost-saving to the national government.
“Ang solution lang, linisin lang po yung mga ilog. Linisin lang po yung mga ilog. Empower the local community to help. Empower the barangay, the local government to help. Clear all the waterways. Solve na yung problema,” he said.
Ang also raised an issue various sectors have been pointing out to local government units (LGUs) in Laguna for the longest time: the issue of waterways that were narrowed, built over or even covered up during the mad rush for development in recent decades.
“Hindi lang po kailangang i-dredge yung mga ilog; kailangan po na isabatas na bawal paliitin yung lapad ng ilog. Isabatas na bawal i-reclaim yung mga ilog. Isabatas na hindi na papayagan magtayo ng kung ano-anong bomba at sheet pile at concrete wall,” the businessman emphasized.
Big help
Representative Dimaguila, who had been one of the loudest voices in Congress urging the national government to undertake the dredging of Laguna de Bay, echoed Ang’s sentiments even as he reported progress on his own efforts.
During the MOA signing, the representative reported that Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has pledged to procure the necessary equipment for its own dredging operations.
“Si ating DPWH Secretary po ay nangako na bibili ng mga gamit para magamit din sa dredging. Kasi pinag-aaralan namin, pinag-aaralan ng Department of DPWH yung gastos. Kasi alam na napakalaki po. So maraming salamat po sa tulong niyo; makakatulong din po ang national government dito dahil malaking problema po talaga,” Dimaguila said.
The solon had earlier pledged to rally government agencies to revive a scrapped 2000’s plan to dredge Laguna de Bay as a long-term solution to flooding.
According to Dimaguila, the lake’s limited capacity due to silt accumulation has lessened its capability to handle runoff from Laguna’s rivers, particularly during heavy rainfall.
“Ang sitwasyon natin ngayon sa Laguna Lake ay hanggang ngayon po ay may mga baha pa rin yung barangay sa Biñan po, sa Cabuyao... At dahil lahat po ng ulan na magagaling sa Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, at parte po ng Metro Manila ay pupunta po lahat yan sa Laguna Lake, kaya tataas po ulit ang tubig po sa atin,” he explained.
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