Disaster relief drove San Miguel Foundation’s nationwide work in 2025

Insider Spotlight

• Disaster response accounted for the largest share of San Miguel Foundation activities in 2025
• About 192,000 marginalized and displaced Filipinos were reached nationwide
• Employee volunteers logged around 57,000 hours across relief and community programs

Disaster relief emerged as the leading focus of San Miguel Foundation’s nationwide initiatives in 2025, following a year marked by major typhoons, earthquakes, and urban fires, even as the organization sustained long-term programs in health, nutrition, education, and food security.

Why it matters

The scale and frequency of disasters in 2025 pushed corporate foundations to balance immediate response with long-term development, highlighting the growing role of private sector-led relief networks in national resilience efforts.

By the numbers

San Miguel Foundation said it reached about 192,000 marginalized and displaced Filipinos during the year. Disaster response generated the highest number of beneficiaries, with at least 156,760 people assisted through food, water, and essential supply distribution following multiple typhoons, earthquakes in Cebu and Bacolod, and a major fire in Tondo, Manila.

What they’re saying

“We deployed as much assistance and volunteers as we could to respond to our countrymen in times of need, while continuing to strengthen programs designed to provide longer-term support,” said SMC chair and CEO Ramon Ang.

Driving the effort

Relief operations were carried out largely through Team Malasakit, San Miguel Corp.’s employee-volunteer network. Volunteer participation across the conglomerate's business units totaled about 57,000 hours in 2025, supporting hundreds of outreach activities nationwide.

Beyond emergency aid

Alongside disaster relief, San Miguel Foundation expanded participation across its Better World Centers, which anchor community programs in underserved areas. 

In Tondo and Smokey Mountain, the foundation combined food assistance with education, livelihood, and health interventions for urban poor families. 

In Cubao, Quezon City, year-long programs for women focused on learning, mental health discussions, and digital literacy, supported by volunteer engagement.

Healthcare and food security

Healthcare services also scaled up nationwide, with Better World Clinics growing to nine sites in 2025, serving active patients through consultations, diagnostics, and medicine distribution. 

Nutrition programs continued through the First 1,000 Days initiative for mothers and infants, while food security efforts were sustained via the Backyard Bukid program, which supports community-based food production.

The bottom line

San Miguel Foundation’s 2025 experience underscores how disaster relief can dominate corporate social investment during crisis-heavy years, while still reinforcing longer-term community programs that address healthcare access, nutrition, and education gaps nationwide. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma