Marcos welcomes Ramon Ang’s flood control solution, but says Metro Manila mayors must tackle garbage problem

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, August 11, welcomed San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and CEO Ramon S. Ang’s offer to help address the country’s flooding problem, calling it an example of how the private sector can play a crucial role in national development.

“Thank you, what else will we say,” Marcos told reporters. “This is why from the very beginning, we said the private sector needs to be part of our national development.”

The President described Ang’s proposal as “certainly very welcome,” noting that he has personally seen the positive results of SMC’s infrastructure projects. “The man is an engineer, pinag-aralan niya nang mabuti ‘yan,” Marcos said.

However, Marcos underscored the need for Metro Manila mayors address the garbage problem alongside flood control efforts, citing Ang’s condition that local governments must take responsibility for waste management.

“It simply doesn’t work without a solution to the garbage problem,” he said, adding that the government is currently pursuing a waste-to-energy project in Manila as a possible model for other areas.

“Anybody who wants to help, it’s a welcome offer,” Marcos said, while stressing that a comprehensive approach—combining engineering solutions and effective waste management—is key to solving the country’s perennial flooding woes.