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SMC's Ramon Ang to Lead No-Cost Flood Mitigation in Laguna

Ramon Ang's initiative aims to solve Laguna's flooding issues, while reports reveal corruption draining billions from flood control projects.

In this image there is a river, on that river there are ships, in the background there is a bridge,...
In this image there is a river, on that river there are ships, in the background there is a bridge, buildings and a construction cares and the sky.

SMC's Ramon Ang to Lead No-Cost Flood Mitigation in Laguna

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president Ramon Ang has stepped forward to help alleviate flooding in Laguna province at no cost to Filipino taxpayers. The project, aiming for long-term flood mitigation, is a collaborative effort with the provincial government.

Ang's plan centres around dredging heavily-silted water channels and widening rivers by approximately 30%. This will address the current issue of protective walls' excavated soil being dumped back into rivers, causing choking, increased siltation, and reduced depth, thereby amplifying flooding risk.

Regular maintenance and debris clearing will be institutionalized to ensure the infrastructure's longevity. SMC's 'Better Rivers PH' programme, with experience in river cleaning in Laguna and other provinces, will lead the project. The agreement will be formalised via a memorandum of agreement (MOA).

This initiative comes amidst reports of corruption draining 20% of the annual Philippine budget, with flood control alone losing an estimated ₱42.3-₱118.5 billion from 2023-2025 due to overpricing and underdelivering. SMC has committed not to seek any tax incentives or financial support for the project, aiming to deliver a lasting solution to Laguna's flooding issues.

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