San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has resumed river cleanup operations in Bulacan after completing a two-year effort that removed over 4.15 million metric tons of silt and waste from 74 kilometers of waterways.
The company is now conducting maintenance dredging in key rivers flowing into Manila Bay, particularly those surrounding the future New Manila International Airport (NMIA).
SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said that in the last 10 months, the Better Rivers PH teams have cleared more than 500,000 tons of silt and waste from a nine-kilometer stretch of the Maycapiz-Taliptip and Bambang Rivers.
These rivers, once mostly knee-deep, now measure over three meters deep. Cleanup efforts have also extended to the Bagumbayan River, where more than 91,000 tons of silt and waste have been removed.
Ang stressed the importance of continuous maintenance to preserve the improved flood-carrying capacity of the rivers.
“Rivers that surround the New Manila International Airport project have a vital function… That is why it’s critical that we continuously clean them, and even deepen and expand where needed,” he said.
Before SMC’s intervention, decades of siltation had clogged major waterways, worsening flooding in low-lying coastal areas that sit below sea level. The NMIA site itself had long been submerged and used as fish ponds. In 2024, SMC cleared over 1.5 million tons of silt from the three major rivers and cleaned upstream tributaries, helping reduce flooding in several Bulacan municipalities.
However, recent typhoons and heavy rainfall have again caused significant silt buildup, prompting SMC to reactivate cleanup operations.
“Keeping the rivers clean and flowing is our long-term commitment… continuous flood risk mitigation efforts for the airport will greatly benefit neighboring municipalities,” Ang added.
In western Bulacan, areas such as Hagonoy and Malolos remain prone to flooding when Angat Dam overflows despite earlier cleanup efforts in nearby rivers.
SMC emphasized that flooding in Bulacan is a complex challenge driven by sea-level rise, land subsidence, inadequate drainage, and rapid urbanization. Lasting solutions will require sustained cooperation among government, communities, and the private sector.