San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Quezon City government have entered into a landmark partnership to scale up river rehabilitation and flood mitigation efforts under SMC’s Better Rivers PH program.
Through a memorandum of agreement (MOA), SMC will clean, deepen, and widen critical sections of the San Juan River and extend its rehabilitation of the Tullahan River up to La Mesa Dam, building on its 2020–2022 cleanup drive that removed 1.1 million metric tons of silt and waste from 10.9 kilometers of waterways.
The initiative also covers tributaries identified by the city government, aiming to clear garbage and silt, improve water flow to Manila Bay, and ease flooding in vulnerable, low-lying communities.
The partnership will deploy dredging equipment, barges, and trucks, alongside new debris collection systems, to restore the natural capacity of the rivers. These projects are part of SMC’s Better Rivers PH, which since 2020 has removed over 8.5 million metric tons of waste and silt from 163 kilometers of waterways in Metro Manila — at no cost to government or taxpayers.
“For five years now, we have been cleaning rivers because we want to help solve the flooding problem,” said SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang. “We don’t profit from this work, and none of the dredged material is ever used for our projects. This is about doing our part for our communities.”
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte welcomed the collaboration, noting that it complements the city’s environmental and flood control programs.
“Lahat ng bagay ay gumagaan kapag pinagtutulungan. Together, we are multiplying our impact and we can set a new standard for public-private collaboration that builds the foundation for a more resilient city and a life of dignity for every QCitizen and every Filipino,” Mayor Belmonte said.
Looking ahead, SMC also offered to support the city’s exploration of advanced waste management technologies, underscoring its commitment to sustainable, long-term flood solutions and environmental protection.