San Miguel Corp. (SMC) chairman and chief govt officer Ramon S. Ang and Quezon Metropolis Mayor Pleasure Belmonte have agreed to work collectively to sort out the flood downside that continues to cripple Metro Manila throughout heavy downpours.
SMC, represented by at least RSA, signed a memorandum of settlement with the Quezon Metropolis authorities, led by Mayor Belmonte, on the SMC head workplace in Mandaluyong Metropolis final Tuesday, witnessed by QC metropolis engineer Mark Dale Diamond Perral, QC administrator Michael Victor Alimurung, Cynthia de Castro – SMC assistant vice chairman for presidency affairs and Jimmy O. Lu – VP and total undertaking supervisor of SMC’s Higher Rivers PH initiative.
SMC and the QC authorities have agreed to collectively work collectively to wash and rehabilitate main rivers within the metropolis, increasing SMC’s Higher Rivers PH initiative that goals to cut back flooding in Metro Manila.
Underneath the settlement, SMC will deepen and widen key sections of the San Juan River and lengthen its cleanup of the Tullahan River to La Mesa Dam, constructing on its 2020-2022 pilot effort that cleared 1.1 million metric tons of silt and stable waste from 10.9 kilometers of the waterway.
The RSA-led firm may even clear up different tributaries recognized by the QC authorities to take away silt and rubbish, enhance rainwater carrying capability, and enhance outflow to Manila Bay, which is able to assist cut back flooding in low-lying areas.
The partnership between SMC and the QC authorities consists of the deployment of dredging tools, barges, and vans, in addition to the event of improved methods for gathering particles and different obstructions to revive the pure stream of water.
The dredging and removing of rubbish and particles initiatives will type a part of SMC’s Higher Rivers PH program which was launched in 2020. This program has already eliminated greater than 8.5 million metric tons of silt and waste from 163 kilometers of rivers and tributaries in and round Metro Manila for gratis to the federal government or taxpayers.
In line with Ang, “For 5 years now, we’ve got been cleansing rivers as a result of we wish to assist remedy the flooding downside,” including that “We don’t revenue from this work, and not one of the dredged materials is ever used for our initiatives. That is about doing our half for our communities.”
Mayor Belmonte welcomed the partnership, saying it would strengthen Quezon Metropolis’s flood management efforts and complement its broader waste administration and environmental initiatives.
On the MOA signing ceremony, Belmonte assured the general public that the mixed effort of the QC authorities and SMC would assist ease the burden of the cleanup.
“Lahat ng bagay ay gumagaan kapag pinagtutulungan. Collectively, we’re multiplying our influence and we are able to set a brand new customary for public-private collaboration that builds the muse for a extra resilient metropolis and a lifetime of dignity for each QCitizen and each Filipino.”
As a part of its dedication to long-term options, SMC has additionally supplied to assist Quezon Metropolis discover extra superior waste administration applied sciences to help higher flood prevention and environmental safety.
Stable waste administration
Having personally skilled the flooding brought on by Hurricane Ondoy in September 2009 and once more of Hurricane Carina in July 2024, I firmly consider that other than the dredging of silt from the rivers and waterways, there should be extra effort and training on stable waste administration, which refers back to the full strategy of gathering, treating, evaluation and disposal of stable waste.
I’ve witnessed that when the floodwaters go down, piles of rubbish – together with massive items of furnishings, plastics, kiddie tricycles, mattresses, tons of tarpaulins and rubbish – have piled up and clogged drainage pipes that triggered the again stream of floodwaters onto the streets.
The span of Araneta Avenue alongside QC is a daily witness to the large pile up of rubbish after the floods that make the main thoroughfare impassable after a protracted downpour.
European nations like Germany and Sweden have perfected their stable waste administration and recycling course of. I’ve had the chance to see for myself how the German authorities encourages its residents to carry all of their undesirable stuff – from furnishings, development supplies (even ceramic bathrooms and wash bowls, bicycles, outdated home equipment, outdated tires, toys, garments and even unused chemical compounds, to a sorting, recycling and disposal facility the place such gadgets are sorted, categorized and assessed for correct disposal, recycling or repurposing.
Thus, future flood management initiatives ought to embrace stable waste administration and training.
Authorities ought to put aside funds to place up assortment and sorting amenities the place the general public can correctly go to eliminate their undesirable stuff as a substitute of counting on the default rubbish collectors who typically truly refuse to simply accept large gadgets, forcing some residents (particularly these dwelling close to rivers or estuaries) to ditch their undesirable mattresses, furnishings or bike into the murky waters.
Even in Amsterdam, the behavior of ditching outdated and damaged bicycles is tough to interrupt because the Dutch authorities must commonly dredge and scoop up tons of the favored two-wheel autos generally used within the metropolis.
It’s actually excessive time that we Filipinos ought to have such amenities, not simply within the cities, however all through the nation.
In Germany, I used to be additionally amazed that residents are inspired to carry unused chemical compounds, reminiscent of acids or paints, to the stable waste facility for correct disposal and stop poisoning the waterways which additionally irrigate farmlands. Right here within the Philippines, we merely throw away half-empty unused paints and chemical compounds within the rubbish, oblivious to the poisonous brew that we’re creating that in flip poisons our waterways and fertile land.
Maybe, as acknowledged by Mayor Belmonte, the federal government may encourage public-private partnerships for stable waste administration that might find yourself being helpful to each events in time period of recycling and repurposing supplies, and should even lead to low-cost furnishings and supply employment for native carpenters, leading to a virtuous cycle.