SMC mobilizes over P20 million in food relief for storm-hit communities
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) extends aid to storm-hit communities nationwide, delivering millions worth of its food products through local government units.
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is ramping up relief operations for communities affected by persistent rains, tropical storm Crising, and typhoon Emong, with over P20 million worth of food assistance being mobilized for distribution across Luzon and the Visayas.
The relief efforts, through the San Miguel Foundation, are ongoing and being implemented in coordination with local government units and partner organizations to ensure timely delivery to the most affected areas.
In Luzon, food packs are being delivered to all 16 cities and the lone municipality of Metro Manila. The company is also sending food products to four cities and 21 municipalities in Bulacan province.
Relief is also being dispatched to 12 provinces, including Bataan, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Cebu, and Negros Occidental. In total, the company is targeting at least 28 cities and 25 municipalities.
“Our priority is to make assistance immediately available to families displaced or unable to work due to the severe weather and flooding. We are using our network, facilities, and volunteers to ensure we help as many families as we can,” said SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
So far, over P16.9 million worth of food products have been mobilized.
In addition, San Miguel Foundation has been setting up soup kitchens in key areas to serve hot meals to some 47,000 individuals. This initiative, valued at P2.3 million, is part of the company’s broader relief operations.
The company is also rolling out the distribution of grocery packs worth over P1 million, which will benefit more than 2,000 families.
Combined, these efforts bring SMC’s mobilized aid to over P20.29 million, with more deliveries ongoing in the coming days.
For close to two weeks now, continued heavy rainfall has dumped a significant volume of rainwater on affected cities and provinces, causing flooding that has been aggravated by huge amounts of garbage and clogged drainage systems.
Since 2020, SMC has been at the forefront of efforts to desilt and clean up major rivers and river systems throughout Luzon, to help increase their flood-carrying capacities and improve water flow out to the Manila Bay.
Recently, it reported removing over P8.5 million tons of silt and solid wastes from 10 critical rivers and river systems, including the Tullahan River, Pasig River, San Juan River, rivers in Bulacan, the Pampanga River, and key tributaries in Laguna and Paranaque, among others.
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