The agreement, signed by SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang and Laguna Governor Marisol “Sol” Aragones, integrates SMC’s five-year-old Better Rivers PH initiative into Laguna’s flood-mitigation plan.

Under the MOU, SMC will 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. The company will shoulder all costs of dredging, fuel, logistics and labor.

SMC has been conducting cleanup operations in Laguna since August 2023, clearing about 576,991 metric tons of silt and waste from close to 10 kilometers of waterways such as the Biñan, San Isidro, Landayan and Tunasan — all at no cost to government.

The cleanup effort will also involve widening sections of river channels and re-channeling certain portions to improve water flow. SMC and the province will jointly mobilize communities to support the initiative and create a monitoring system to track progress.

Laguna’s provincial government will identify priority areas and coordinate with relevant national agencies for technical guidance. It will also designate disposal or spoil sites for dredged silt, garbage and debris in compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (R.A. 9003), and ensure proper waste handling and adherence to wastewater regulations.

Meanwhile, Ang said the project will not only improve water quality but also enhance river capacity to carry rainwater and runoff to Laguna de Bay. He noted, however, that addressing flooding in coastal towns will also require the national government’s long-planned underground spillway connecting Laguna Lake to Manila Bay.

“We are grateful to Governor Sol and to all our government partners, for the trust you have given us,” said Ang. “We will make sure that what we start today will bring lasting change for Laguna and its communities.”

The partnership with Laguna adds to SMC’s growing list of local government tie-ups under Better Rivers PH, following similar agreements with Quezon City and Las Piñas City.

Launched in 2020, the program has so far removed over 8.6 million metric tons of silt and waste from 166 kilometers of waterways — making it the largest and longest-running river rehabilitation effort led by a private company in the Philippines. Active cleanup sites include Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Quezon City, and the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela) area.

The tree planting activity brought together over 200 partners from leading corporations and industries, having planted a total of 1,500 seedlings to help reforest the Sierra Madre, the Philippines’ largest mountain range. 

The Sierra Madre mountain range plays a crucial role in the country’s biodiversity and ecology and is also known for its rich flora and fauna as well as its significance in protecting against typhoons and other natural disasters. 

MPower, along with One Meralco Foundation (OMF) and its partners, already planted more than 13,000 native trees since the program’s launch in 2015. 

“We are deeply committed to promoting environmental sustainability not only through the provision of renewable energy but also through the way we give back to our communities. This program,  together with our partner companies and One Meralco Foundation will make a meaningful contribution to reforestation efforts and environmental sustainability,” MPower Senior Assistance Vice President and Retail Sales Head Eddie John V. Adug said. 

The trees planted during the activity will boost support for OMF’s One for Trees environmental campaign which aims to rehabilitate threatened ecosystems through reforestation. Initiated in 2019,  One for Trees has nurtured over 2.3 million trees through its active partnerships with various organizations and local government units across the country.