San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has committed to conduct dredging, widening and cleaning up of major rivers in Bulacan where it is building its P734-billion Manila International Airport in Bulakan town.
Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief operating officer, said in a statement the company had been in talks with local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders the past few weeks to outline their flood mitigation strategy.
He said SMC has been requested to replicate its ongoing P1 billion Tullahan-Tinajeros River System dredging project in Bulacan, to help mitigate flooding which has affected Bulacan residents, particularly those living in the low-lying areas of the province.
“Cleaning up major rivers in Bulacan is really part of our plan. That is why many stakeholders, led by the provincial government and local government units, welcome the project. We have committed to help with this issue and show that this airport project will not only provide jobs and boost the economy, but will also provide a long-term solution to the perennial flooding in Bulacan,” Ang said.
SMC said t dredging, widening and deepening of the Alipit or Taliptip River, Sta. Maria River and the Meycauayan River will address the risk of upstream flooding apart from studying future improvements to alleviate the potential risk of flooding, as continued urban development can increase surface runoff volumes.
The conglomerate added that its flood mitigation strategy will complement the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan Area Drainage System Improvement Project, further improving overall flood mitigation in the province.
