The conglomerate has begun cleanup operations along a four-kilometer stretch of the Butuanon River in Mandaue City, targeting a heavily clogged river mouth where accumulated silt and waste have restricted water flow into the Mactan Channel.
Flood-hit river targeted
The move follows severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Tino in November 2025, when the Butuanon River was among the waterways that overflowed after the storm dumped more than a month’s worth of rain on parts of Cebu.
“Mandaue has long been home to San Miguel and to generations of our employees, and we are glad to support the government in this effort to help reduce flooding and protect communities,” SMC chair and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
River mouth choked by silt
Initial assessments found the river mouth partially blocked by accumulated sediment and waste, limiting outflow into the Mactan Channel and increasing flood risks during periods of heavy rainfall.
The company said upstream soil deposits could eventually create new bottlenecks downstream if not removed, making a broader cleanup necessary.
Lessons from past cleanups
“Our work in other rivers has shown that cleanup has to go beyond what people see on the surface. The important part is removing the buildup that has made the river narrower and shallower over time, so it can carry more water during heavy rains,” Ang said.
SMC said conditions in the Butuanon River resemble several heavily silted waterways it has rehabilitated in recent years under its Better Rivers PH program.
Equipment already in Cebu
Working with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Mandaue City government, SMC will deploy at least six excavators and several barges from its local brewery operations to remove silt, waste and soil deposits at no cost to the government.
The company operates several facilities in Mandaue, allowing it to tap existing equipment and personnel for the cleanup effort.
Expanding beyond Metro Manila
The Cebu project expands a river rehabilitation campaign that has removed nearly 9.2 million metric tons of silt and waste from more than 190 kilometers of waterways since 2020.
Those efforts have covered major rivers including the Pasig, Tullahan, San Juan, Pampanga and Meycauayan rivers, as well as waterways in Bulacan, Laguna, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Parañaque, helping restore flood-carrying capacity in some of the country’s most flood-prone areas.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
