SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION (SMC) president and CEO Ramon S. Ang has offered to help address Metro Manila’s persistent flooding for free, pledging to clear waterways and build replacement facilities for structures obstructing the natural flow of rivers.
In a joint press conference with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday, Ang said he was willing to purchase land for relocation sites and construct housing and school buildings to replace those that currently stand over waterways.
“Ako po, San Miguel, Ramon Ang, nagbo-volunteer ako ngayon. Ako na ang tutulong sa buong Metro Manila ma-solve ang baha, at no cost to the people, at no cost to the government,” Ang said.
“Kahit ‘yung eskwela, gusto mo, bibili na ako ng lupa; kapalit noon, magtatayo ako ng kapalit na eskwela. At ‘yung housing, bibili na rin ako ng lupa para tayuan ng pabahay ang mga tao doon, para lang alisin natin ‘yung mga pabahay at eskwela sa ibabaw ng ilog,” he added.
The offer comes weeks after SMC projects were blamed for flooding in areas where construction is ongoing, including the MRT Line 7 and Skyway projects.
Ang denied the allegations, saying SMC had, in fact, replaced drainage lines in the affected areas. “Kasalanan ba namin ‘yun? Hindi. Wala nang turuan. Pinalitan namin lahat ng kanal. Kami ang gumawa noon,” he said.
SMC’s MRT-7 Project Management Office earlier said its facilities near Batasan Station on Commonwealth Avenue “are not the cause of the flooding,” noting that all structures were built outside drainage lines and in compliance with approved engineering plans.
