Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has lauded San Miguel Corporation President and COO Ramon S. Ang for his various projects to promote environmental protection and rehabilitation.
"The projects that SMC, through the leadership of Mr. Ramon S. Ang, are undertaking to address environmental problems are both commendatory and worth emulating,” MWSS Chairman and OIC Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco.
To recall, Velasco is one of the prime movers of the MWSS' Annual Million Tree Challenge and the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI).
He made the statement about Ang in reaction to a report that SMC intends to plant close to 200,000 mangroves along the Bulacan coastlines as part of its flood mitigation plan.
SMC’s comprehensive plan also includes the cleaning, dredging, and widening of major tributaries in the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system of Bulacan.
Bulacan is the site of the new Manila international airport under SMC’s Aero City franchise that is set to break ground in the second quarter of the year.
The other week, MWSS and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has turned over P16.25 million worth of financial support to 6,500 farmers of Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. represented by IA President Guillerm.
This was several months after these farmers were unable to benefit from its supposed water allocation from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) during the Dry Cropping Season of CY 2020 due to a collapse reported in Bustos Dam in May last year.
The unfortunate event made it possible for NWRB to provide MWSS with Additional Water Allocation for household consumption of residents in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Thus, NWRB Director Sevillo D. David, Jr. proposed to MWSS an equitable cash compensation plan for Bulacan farmers who were affected by the said Additional Water Allocation.
In this regard, NIA assisted in the selection of qualified beneficiaries, while MWSS formally instructed its concessionaires, Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Company, Inc., to make necessary payment as compensation to the farmer-beneficiaries.