Marcos welcomes Ramon Ang’s offer to solve Metro Manila flooding

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warmly welcomed San Miguel Corporation chief Ramon Ang’s offer to help solve Metro Manila’s perennial flooding, praising the business leader’s track record in infrastructure and cleanup efforts.

“This is why from the very beginning I always said, the private sector needs to be part of everything in our national development,” Marcos told reporters in a press briefing on Monday, Aug. 11.

“Yung [The] proposal ni [of] Ramon Ang is certainly very welcome. We’ve seen his projects — maganda naman ang mga nagiging resulta [the results are good]. He’s able to bring it in on time. And the man is an engineer, so I’m sure pinag-aralan niya ng mabuti yan [he is studying it well],” he added.

The president confirmed that Ang had already briefed him on the plan, which includes desilting rivers, estuaries, and creeks in Metro Manila.

“I will fix the flooding problem… but the mayors, the LGUs (local government units), have to take care of the garbage,” Marcos quoted Ang as saying. “It simply doesn’t work until we have a solution to the garbage problem.”

The president said the government is already pursuing a waste-to-energy project in Manila and is open to expanding similar solutions to other flood-prone areas.

“Itutuloy natin, titingnan natin kung magandang lumabas doon [We will push through with that and see if it will yield good results]. If that’s the case, then that’s what we will do in other parts of Metro Manila, or other urban areas na nababaha [that get flooded],” he said.

Marcos also welcomed Senator Panfilo Lacson’s suggestion to tap other tycoons for large-scale flood control initiatives.

“Siyempre. You do not look a gift horse in the mouth. Kung handa silang tumulong, tumutulong,” Marcos said, noting that the country’s top business leaders have historically supported major government projects.

[Translation: Of course, if they are willing to help, they can help)

He said Ang’s work on the Pasig River shows his capacity to deliver results.

“Nagdi-de-silt na siya. Pasig River, dini-de-silt na niya. Alam niya talaga ‘yun [He is desilting Pasig River. He knows it well],” Marcos said.

“Any offers of help are always welcome,” he added.

Ang’s proposal

Ang announced on Aug. 8 that he was volunteering to assist all of Metro Manila in addressing flooding “at no cost to the people, and at no cost to the government.”

Meeting with Metro Manila mayors and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in Pasig City, Ang sought official approval to clean up clogged waterways across the capital region.

SMC has been spearheading river rehabilitation efforts under its “Better Rivers” initiative in the Pasig and Tullahan rivers, as well as in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Laguna.

“When it comes to Valenzuela, Malabon, and Navotas, those are low-lying areas,” Ang said.