The social development arm of San Miguel Corporation reported assisting about 192,000 marginalized and displaced Filipinos during the year, with emergency relief accounting for the largest share of beneficiaries.

Through its nationwide Team Malasakit employee-volunteer network, the foundation delivered food, water, and essential supplies to at least 156,760 people affected by multiple typhoons, earthquakes in Cebu and Bacolod, and a major fire in Tondo, Manila.

“We deployed as much assistance and volunteers as we could to respond to our countrymen in times of need, while continuing to strengthen programs designed to provide longer-term support,” said SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

Participation also expanded across SMF’s Better World Centers, which anchor its community initiatives in some of the country’s most underserved areas.

At Better World Tondo and Better World Smokey Mountain, the foundation paired food assistance with education, livelihood, and health interventions for urban poor families, including learning support for children and skills training for parents.

Better World Cubao ran year-long programs focused on women, offering learning sessions, mental health discussions, and digital literacy classes supported by volunteers. The site also hosted medical and laboratory services through the government’s Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center in partnership with Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

“This helps close gaps in access to healthcare for underserved communities,” Ang said, noting that a fully operational BUCAS Center is now serving patients at Better World Smokey Mountain.

Healthcare outreach expanded nationwide as SMF’s Better World Clinics grew to nine sites in 2025, providing consultations, diagnostics, and medicines to active patients.

Nutrition efforts continued through the First 1,000 Days program for mothers and infants, implemented with local governments, while food security projects advanced under the Backyard Bukid initiative, which supports community-based food production.

The foundation also sustained feeding and education programs in institutional settings, including at the New Bilibid Prison.

Volunteer engagement across SMC’s business units reached about 57,000 hours in 2025, supporting hundreds of outreach activities nationwide.

For Better World Smokey Mountain, SMC is working with AHA Learning Center, Upskills+ Foundations Inc., Project Pearls, Sandiwaan Center for Learning Inc., and Tulay sa Pag-Unlad Inc. to develop various programs to meet the diverse needs of families in the community. 

Dubbed as Better World Smokey Mountain, the center has 39 modern classrooms spread across four levels. It is part of SMC’s ambitious goal to uplift the lives of 15 million Filipinos by 2030.

“As we celebrate San Miguel’s 133rd anniversary, our commitment to nation-building and in helping uplift the lives of more Filipinos, is as strong as ever. And today, a critical challenge in our country is the widening skills gap in our disadvantaged communities, which hinders the progress of many of our kababayans,” said SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

“Our goal is to equip our Tondo beneficiaries with essential skills, instill in them a growth mindset, and a vision of a brighter future. By providing these families the opportunity to upskill, we hope to ultimately boost their income levels, decrease unemployment, elevate overall living standards, and help them realize inter-generational change.”

Better World Smokey Mountain is a 3,700 sq.m facility near the former Smokey Mountain landfill that will serve as a learning and skills development center for 2,500 families or roughly 12,500 individuals from the historically underserved communities in Tondo.

At the center’s launch Friday, Ang, who grew up in Tondo, was visibly moved upon seeing the children beneficiaries at the facility. On the spot, he announced to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna a P500-million initial donation to help build more school facilities in the City of Manila.

He added that this was in gratitude to the city where he grew up, and further encouraged children from poor families to persevere and study well, because like him, they too can succeed in life.

SMC has been working with partners to boost skills training and entrepreneurship all over the country as part of its overall approach to nation-building which includes investing in critical, job-generating industries that are seen to boost both local and national economies.

Just last August, Ang announced the expansion of a years-long program with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) that will provides skills training for the disadvantaged, and even displaced workers, returning OFWs, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, in more provinces all over the country.

SMC started building Better World community centers in 2019 to address various societal issues — hunger, access to healthcare, education, and women empowerment, among others —at the ground level together with different non-government organizations.

For BWSM, SMC is working with AHA Learning Center, Upskills+ Foundations Inc., Project Pearls, Sandiwaan Center for Learning Inc., and Tulay sa Pag-Unlad Inc. These organizations have helped develop various programs to meet the diverse needs of families in the community.

These include: academic support to help bridge learning gaps among elementary students; essential life skills training for high school students; vocational training opportunities for out-of-school youth and unemployed mothers; women-empowerment programs; teacher training and support; and specialized sessions in music, arts, dance, and digital creativity, led by accomplished industry professionals.

Families can become members by contributing “sweat equity”, which includes helping in the facility’s upkeep and engaging in various community activities.

Even families already benefiting from similar services provided by other organizations are encouraged to join.

BWSM is the fifth Better World Community Center of SMC.

Thus far, 2023 has been a significant year for SMC. Following the pandemic years, the company has marked numerous milestones, including the development of major projects, seen to boost the Philippines’ growth, development, and future-readiness.

Reflecting its greater role in nation-building, SMC has also launched its new Group vision–“A resilient and globally-competitive Philippines where everyone can enrich and enjoy their lives”– and purpose statement: “To lead in nation-building by creating opportunities that will uplift generations of Filipinos, allowing all to share in the rewards of sustainable development and prosperity” .

More significantly, the company has also doubled down on its strong commitment to sustainability, declaring four major goals: uplift the lives of at least 15 million Filipinos by 2030; implement a circular economy approach by 2040; achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and establish a fully sustainable and ethically sound supply chain by 2040.