SMC CEO says flood control is nothing
more than dredging or cleaning rivers
By Tony Lopez
Fed up with being blamed every time there is a massive flood in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, San Miguel Corporation Chair and CEO Ramon S. Ang has offered no taipan in his right mind will offer—solve the flood problems of the national capital and adjacent provinces. At no cost to the government and at no cost to the people.
SMC is the builder of the Bulacan Airport and MRT7, which in recent floodings in the national capital region were blamed by the uninformed and the guilty parties as having caused the problem.
SMC to provide relocation sites, housing
RSA vowed to clean up and desilt the region’s major rivers and tributaries, construct drainage systems, and even buy relocation sites and housing for those displaced by the cleanups. Charge to SMC.
Upon hearing RSA’s offer, a top official of the SM Investments Corp. offered to pool its own immense resources with RSA to mitigate our flooding. Now, we have the country’s two largest conglomerates—SMC is biggest in sales, SMIC is biggest in market value– battling flood control.
Half of P2 trillion flood control funds stolen
Sen. Panfilo Lacson says the government spent P2 trillion in 15 years for flood control, or P365 million day. Yet, the floods have worsened. The higher the flood control budget, the higher the floods afterwards. Why? Corruption. Lacson says half or P1 trillion of the P2 trillion was stolen.
The stealing was done by contractors. Partners in crime are the senators and congressmen, along with the LGU chiefs—mayors and governors. Lacson says only 40% of flood control budgets goes to the project; 60% is stolen—by our elected representatives and their contractors. Of 300 congressmen, at least 67 are contractors. In effect, these thieves steal from us twice—as contractors with overpriced projects, and as “commissioners”. Senators, congressmen, and LGU mayors and governors cannot be impeached.
VP Sara Duterte was impeached by 215 congressmen. For stealing P612 million of intel and confidential funds. Contractors steal much more.
Per data collated by President Marcos Jr., P100 billion, or 20% of the P545 billion his administration allotted for flood control nationwide in his first three years went to just 15 contractors.
Using Ping Lacson’s math that half of flood control money is stolen, then 15 contractors making happy time with P100 billion means P6.66 billion per contractor (P100B divided by 15). If half is stolen, then P6.66 billion means each contractor pockets P3.33 billion. It’s three years, so P3.33 billion is P1.11 billion per year.
No wonder contractors are able to buy the loyalty of politicians or buy public offices outright by running for elective positions spending people’s money.
On Aug. 8, 2025 at lunch, RSA told me cleaning 34 kms of Bulacan rivers cost only P500 million. His Pasig River cleanup itself cost only P2 billion. With probably not more than 5% or P100 billion of P2 trillion, floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces can be solved or at least mitigated.
Offer welcomed
President Marcos Jr. welcomes RSA’s overwhelming offer. ‘’Yung proposal ni Ramon Ang is also certainly very welcome because, 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, you know, the man is an engineer. So, I’m sure he has – pinag-aralan niya nang mabuti ‘yan (He’s studied that.),’’ the President enthused. He said the government needs private sector’s help to solve perennial flooding in many parts of the country.
Flood control website
BBM made his own bold announcement. He named the country’s top 15 flood control contractors. Are they also the country’s top private sector thieves? Not necessarily. But next time floods visit your area, you know who to blame. The President opened a website so anyone—you and I—can report complaints, anomalies, shady deals, shoddy work, as regards flood control.