LESS than four months after completing its P2-billion initiative to clean up the Pasig River, San Miguel Corp.'s (SMC) comprehensive efforts to rehabilitate major river systems has shifted to high gear in Central Luzon.

In a little over a year, the company has removed more than 2 million metric tons of silt and wastes covering a distance of around 25 kilometers of river channels in Bulacan, initially focusing in areas around the future New Manila International Airport and upstream rivers in Obando, Bulakan, Bocaue and Meycauayan City within the same catch basin.

Additionally, SMC has started conducting bathymetric studies at the Pampanga River, following the completion of river studies in another catch basin in Bulacan.

These studies aim to assess the depth of water across the river channels and determine the shallow areas that restrict the flow of water through both provinces before reaching Manila Bay.

SMC President and CEO Ramon Ang said that although the rainy season is months away, their cleanup teams have started working to increase the water-carrying capacity of these rivers and mitigate flooding, especially in low-lying areas, during heavy rains.

Ang explained that siltation and pollution have made many rivers narrow, shallow and less capable of handling large volumes of floodwater, leading to severe flooding in adjacent areas.

"Similar to our efforts at the Pasig and Tullahan Rivers, we are removing years of solid waste and silt accumulation to increase the rivers' depth and capacity. This will not only improve water flow but also ensure safer conditions for water vessels," he added.

SMC launched its expanded river cleanup program by signing a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the local government units of several cities and provinces.

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