SMC widens Alabang River cleanup after July floods crippled SLEX

Insider Spotlight

• San Miguel Corp. (SMC) expands river cleanup to Alabang, Muntinlupa.
• Over 26,000 tons of silt and waste cleared in two months.
• Effort follows July floods that stranded motorists for hours on SLEX.
• Cleanup requires dismantling obstructions and relocating families.
• Part of SMC’s Better Rivers PH program, with 8.6M tons cleared since 2020.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has extended its Better Rivers PH cleanup program to Alabang River in Muntinlupa City, aiming to prevent a repeat of the massive floods that paralyzed South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) last July 8. The program, carried out with the city government and other agencies, comes at no cost to the government.

By the numbers

In just two months, SMC teams removed more than 26,000 tons of silt and waste from a 450-meter section of the river, starting from its mouth in Laguna de Bay to upstream near Cupang Bridge.

The findings

An investigation showed the river had become heavily silted and constricted, preventing rainwater from flowing properly. Some sections were further narrowed by informal structures and newly built sheet piles, which SMC crews have since dismantled.

What they’re saying

“Our goal is to provide long-term solutions that would ease flooding for the city’s communities and critical roadways,” SMC chair and CEO Ramon S. Ang said. “We owe a great deal of gratitude to Mayor Ruffy Biazon for bringing together the concerned agencies to work with us on a comprehensive approach to solve the problem.”

Mayor Biazon called the cleanup a key component of Muntinlupa’s flood control strategy.

The bigger picture

SMC is coordinating with the Muntinlupa City Engineering Office, DPWH, and nearby subdivisions to restore the river to its natural depth and width. Long-term efforts will include the relocation of informal settler families along the riverbanks, with SMC stressing the need for a dignified and well-supported transition.

Ramon Ang

The San Miguel chief is continuing his mission to reduce flooding in the metropolis at zero cost to the government.

Track record

Since 2020, the Better Rivers PH initiative has removed 8.6 million tons of silt and waste from 165 kilometers of waterways, including major operations in Parañaque, Navotas, Laguna, Las Piñas, and the Tullahan River. Earlier projects also covered Pasig, San Juan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Biñan river systems.

What’s next

SMC says it will sustain operations until Alabang River’s natural depth is restored. It also pledged to maintain flood mitigation projects across Metro Manila and nearby provinces, underscoring its role in private sector-led climate resilience.