San Miguel aid to natural disaster victims tops P3B

Providing housing to families struck by natural disasters has been a core program of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) over the past decade after the country witnessed the destruction caused by powerful typhoons “Sendong” and “Yolanda.” SMC partnered with several organizations, including Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity, to build homes and communities in various areas nationwide, including Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Negros Oriental, Davao, Surigao and Bohol. The food, drinks, power and infrastructure conglomerate said it has spent over P3 billion since 2013 “to build or help provide new homes for families impacted by natural disasters, and various development projects.”“Housing is a basic need. To enable Filipinos to participate in nation-building, we must first support the family unit,” SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang, who was the only Filipino to land in Forbes Asia’s recent Heroes of Philanthropy list.

“Providing safe homes for those affected by calamities or without a home has been our first step to transforming their lives,” Ang said.

From building homes, SMC shifted its focus during the COVID-19 pandemic to “advancing holistic community development.” Its latest housing community in Sariaya, Quezon serves as a model.

“It features disaster-resilient and eco-friendly homes and amenities that include a multipurpose center, covered court, livelihood center, e-library, as well as a fishermen’s wharf and a public market ran by the residents themselves,” SMC said.

Training programs on entrepreneurship, personal finance, food processing, farming and other income-generating activities have also been provided to residents, the company explained.

“Wherever San Miguel operates, progress follows. Our aim is to ensure that those we help are equipped for long-term success,” Ang said.

“But just as important as housing and jobs is having a sense of community. Being part of a supportive network is essential for their long-term success,” he added.

This also inspired the conglomerate to launch its flagship social development program, the SMC Better World Community Centers.

SMC currently has four Better World Community Centers: Better World Tondo, a food bank, feeding, learning and health center; Better World Diliman, a ready market for excess farm produce to support local farmers; Better World Cubao, a center for women’s health and issues that also has a clinic and livelihood training facilities, and Better World Smokey Mountain, a learning center for adults and children living in the former Smokey Mountain landfill. INQ