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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Better Rivers PH cleanup removes 9.12M metric tons of waste

Better Rivers PH cleanup removes 9.12M metric tons of waste

Published Apr 30, 2026 04:22 pm
More than 9.12 million metric tons of silt, waste, and debris have been removed from major waterways since 2020 under San Miguel Corporation’s Better Rivers PH program, a flood‑mitigation initiative carried out at no cost to the government.
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
Maintenance dredging operations under its SMC's Better Rivers PH initiative in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan, the Tullahan River, and San Juan River. (Photos from SMC Media Affairs Office)
The latest operations, aligned with the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha, cleared over 1.04 million metric tons from the Tullahan, San Juan, Laguna, and Bulacan river systems, covering 24.29 kilometers.
SMC said the maintenance work sustains earlier gains by keeping waterways clear and preventing renewed blockages.
“These river systems were among the waterways covered by our earlier cleanup efforts, but keeping them clear requires continuing maintenance,” SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
“This latest work is part of our effort to preserve their water‑carrying capacity and prevent flooding,” he added.
Since 2020, SMC has completed cleanup across 10 major river systems, covering 188.48 kilometers.
The largest volume in recent operations came from Bulacan, where 710,168 metric tons were removed.
Other significant works include 144,324 metric tons from the Tullahan River, 83,289 metric tons from the San Juan River, and 107,192 metric tons from Laguna rivers.
Ang noted that improved water flow and quality have already been observed, but long‑term success depends on sustained upkeep and public cooperation.
He urged communities to practice proper waste segregation and disposal to help prevent waterways from clogging again.

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