Insider Spotlight
The initiative said a key milestone late in 2025 was its return to the San Juan River, which had previously undergone large-scale dredging from October 2022 to April 2024, the advocacy unit of the conglomerate said in a Facebook post on Saturday, Jan 10, 2026.
During that earlier phase, the program removed about 322,000 metric tons of silt and waste from a 7.6-kilometer stretch of the river. Recent monitoring showed several sections had become shallow again, particularly near its connection to the Pasig River and in Barangay Doña Imelda in Quezon City, largely due to construction debris and solid waste accumulation.
So far, cleanup teams have removed nearly 24,000 metric tons of silt and waste from a 2.6-kilometer area in San Juan River as part of renewed operations, underscoring the need for sustained maintenance even after major dredging projects are completed.
The big picture
Across completed cleanup sites, Better Rivers PH has covered more than 170 kilometers of waterways and removed a combined 8.75 million metric tons of waste and silt. Major rivers already cleared include the Tullahan, Pasig, San Juan, Pampanga, and the Bulacan River System, as well as key rivers in Laguna and Navotas.
The Bulacan River System accounts for the largest share of completed work, with over 74 kilometers covered and more than four million metric tons of debris removed. The Pasig River follows, with 26 kilometers cleared and over one million metric tons of waste extracted.
What’s ongoing
Cleanup operations continue along several waterways, including the Las Piñas River, Parañaque Rivers, Alabang River in Muntinlupa, and rivers in San Pedro and Bulakan, Bulacan. These ongoing projects have already removed hundreds of thousands of metric tons of waste, even as teams work through shorter but highly congested river sections.
Maintenance mode
The program is also conducting maintenance cleanups in rivers that were previously dredged but require regular intervention. These include sections of the Tullahan River, San Juan River, Bulacan River System, and Laguna rivers, where more than 770,000 metric tons of waste have been removed over 17 kilometers.
Why it matters
SMC Better Rivers PH said sustained river cleanup is critical to reducing flood risks and supporting local governments and communities. The group stressed that cleaner rivers translate into better drainage, safer communities, and more resilient cities, especially as urban development continues to put pressure on waterways.
The program reiterated its call for public cooperation, emphasizing that long-term river health depends not only on large-scale cleanups but also on proper waste disposal and community participation.
— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas
