CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang and Laguna Governor Sol Aragones have agreed to join hands to address persistent flooding through a major river widening and dredging project that comes at zero cost to the provincial and national governments.

"We will sign a memorandum of agreement with Gov. Sol Aragones to widen all rivers of Laguna. Ang aim natin ay ma-solve ang flooding problem ng Laguna (Our aim is to solve Laguna's flooding problem) for the next 50 years," said Ang during a livestream through the official Sol Aragones Facebook page on Monday.

It was a similar solution proposed by Ang to local chief executives of the National Capital Region.

Highlighting previous successes, Ang pointed out that the cleaning of the San Pedro River and San Isidro River already yielded significant results. Flooding typically occurred in these areas along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

"Nung nilinis namin ‘yung mga ilog na ‘yon, napansin niyo na wala nang baha sa SLEX nung last typhoon nitong 2025 (After we cleaned those rivers, you noticed there was no flooding on SLEX during the last typhoon in 2025)," Ang explained.

The plan will see all narrow rivers in the province widened and regularly maintained. More importantly, Ang assured the public that this landmark project comes with no financial burden on taxpayers.

"At no cost to the government, provincial or national. We are not even asking for a tax credit or any form of compensation. Zero. No cost to the government," he emphasized.

Aragones underscored that the initiative is a united effort to give Laguna a lasting solution to its flooding woes.

"I'm sure po na matutuwa ang ating mga kababayan sa lalawigan ng Laguna (I'm sure our fellow citizens in the province of Laguna will be pleased)," the governor said.

LAGUNA LGU PHOTO