MANILA — On World Water Day, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced remarkable achievements in its commitment to water sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Under its flagship program, “Water for All,” SMC reported a record-breaking water savings of 7.5 billion liters in 2023, marking the highest conservation level achieved in five years.
This milestone contributes significantly to the company’s cumulative water savings, now totaling an impressive 41.3 billion liters over the program’s seven-year duration – an amount equivalent to the monthly consumption of 1.3 million households.
Simultaneously, SMC showcased substantial progress in its extensive river cleanup initiatives across Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
Led by SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, the corporation’s relentless efforts have resulted in the removal of 5.5 million metric tons of silt and solid waste from 85 kilometers of critical waterways.
These efforts encompass the restoration of prominent rivers such as the Tullahan, Pasig, San Juan, and Bulacan rivers, alongside watercourses in Laguna and Navotas.
Ramon S. Ang emphasized the paramount importance of water conservation and pollution mitigation, stating, “Water issues have long been a major priority for us.”
He lauded the integral role played by SMC employees in driving these initiatives forward and expressed gratitude for their dedication to water sustainability advocacies, including the reduction of scarce water usage and the rehabilitation of polluted rivers to aid in flood mitigation.
The company’s internal water savings primarily stem from the increased utilization of alternative water sources such as seawater, recycled water, and rainwater. Ang highlighted various measures undertaken by SMC businesses to enhance water efficiency, ranging from infrastructure upgrades to investments in advanced technologies like desalination.
Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of SMC specializing in fuel and oils, emerged as a key contributor to scarce water savings, leveraging a water desalination facility. In 2023 alone, Petron achieved a remarkable water saving of 3.5 billion liters, adding to its cumulative total of 20.8 billion liters over seven years. San Miguel Global Power and Ginebra San Miguel Inc. followed suit, making significant contributions to the overall water savings.
Furthermore, various SMC subsidiaries, including San Miguel Foods, San Miguel Brewery Inc., San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp., SMC Infrastructure, Northern Cement Corp., and San Miguel Properties, have actively participated in water conservation efforts, collectively contributing to the company’s overarching sustainability goals.
Since its inception in 2017, the “Water for All” program has expanded to encompass newer facilities, monitoring water usage across 96 SMC establishments nationwide. Notably, SMC’s commitment to sustainability led to the discontinuation of its plastic bottled water business in 2017, signaling a strategic shift towards reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental responsibility.
In recent years, SMC embarked on ambitious river cleanup initiatives, beginning with a P1-billion effort to revitalize the Tullahan River in 2020. Subsequent endeavors focused on the rehabilitation of the Pasig River, culminating in the successful removal of nearly 1.2 million metric tons of silt and waste in 2023.
Currently, the cleanup efforts have extended to Bulacan province, targeting rivers prone to flooding during the rainy season. SMC’s endeavors in Bulacan have already resulted in the removal of 2.6 million tons of silt and waste, underscoring the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental conservation and community welfare.
(el Amigo/MNM)
