San Miguel Corporation (SMC), through San Miguel Aerocity Inc.(SMAI), is rolling out more livelihood projects for communities around the site of its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan.
"For close to three years now, we have also been introducing social programs in phases--first housing relocation, followed by skills training, livelihood opportunities, and then enhanced programs to support all of these," SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang announced on Tuesday, March 22.
"Our goal is to help build our communities up to be capable and resilient, with significantly better economic prospects than when we first met them," he underscored.
As part of its livelihood restoration efforts, SMC recently provided some 198 graduates of its SMC Entrepreneurship Training program, with initial business startup capital, to be able to start or expand their own small businesses.
It also launched its SMC Education Assistance Program last December, which initially benefited 81 students belonging to 185 relocatee-families.
Meanwhile, a total of fourteen (14) graduates of a Heavy Equipment Operations (HEO) course under a partnership between SMC and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have been employed at SMC’s Tullahan and Pasig River River Rehabilitation projects.
Since October 2021, the SMC-TESDA program has produced a total of 580 graduates from both school-based and community-based training programs.
Other courses offered are Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), and, for those looking to but up small businesses, Dressmaking, Beads and Accessories Making Training, Cooking, and Bread and Pastry Production.
Another thirty six Bulacan residents were hired by SMC contractor Boskalis for the airport project, with 77 more in the process of completing their pre-employment and quarantine requirements.
SMC also recently purchased 30 boats, nine of which have been turned over to the Bantay Dagat or the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Council (MFARMC) of Bulakan, Bulakan.
Under another program, SMC donated brand new fishnets to 175 fishermen from Barangay Masile in Malolos City and Barangay Bambang in Bulakan.
In 2019, SMC began its community programs in Bulakan with the relocation of settlers living along coastal areas in Taliptip. A total of 277 families were provided housing support.
SMC consulted the relocatees every step of the way. Activities included a survey, vetting, workshop, issuance of compensation, monitoring, and implementation of livelihood restoration programs.