SMC SETS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY IN SARIAYA

San Miguel Corporation has put up a P352-million sustainable community in Sariaya, Quezon for families to be affected by the establishment of its agro-industrial complex in the area that will house a brewery, grains terminal and feed-mill, a ready-to-eat food manufacturing plant, fuel tank farm, and port facilities.

A total of 127 families, who are relocatees from the town’s risky coastal areas, have already transferred to SMC’s 5.4-hectare San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes which boasts of sturdy houses that have typhoon-proofed as part of SMC’s vision to provide houses for the affected families. Apart from the 450-unit housing complex, SMC has built the Sariaya Fisherman’s Dock, and the San Miguel Market to provide families with the means to thrive and develop resilience in the face of challenges.

“We are building a community where people will have access to jobs and services and have the opportunity to make a difference. It’s a place that will stand the test of time, one where people of this and the future generation will want to live and work,” SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang said.

“This housing community that includes the Fisherman’s Dock and the San Miguel Market is an integral part of our investment in Sariaya, Quezon. With our extensive experience in high-quality housing developments, we have designed a safe space that allows members of the community to sustainably farm and fish, and also provide them additional training so that they help us build our facilities in Sariaya together,” Ang added.

Construction of the 450-unit housing community started in April 2019 and was formally turned over to SMC last November 25, 2020.

Each housing unit in the community, built under Housing Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) standards, has a lot area of 54 square meters that can fit a bedroom, toilet and bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and loft capability.

The community has an overhead water tank with 136,000-liter capacity, a dedicated sewage treatment plant made of natural reed beds, a multi-purpose hall, park, daycare center, livelihood center, e-library, and a clubhouse consisting of covered basketball court, multipurpose hall, and playground garden.

“These houses were tested during the last two typhoons and withstood the strong winds and heavy rains. During the height of these typhoons, many families whose houses were destroyed by the typhoons even requested to transfer immediately so they can finally reside in a community that is safe, secure, and where they are being attended to with the company’s trademark malasakit,” he said.

Ang added that the houses in San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes are earthquake-proof, termite-proof, sound and heat-insulated, wind-proof, and environment-friendly as the company used “Green Tough” (GT) panels, designed and manufactured by Fadz Design and Construction.

Currently under construction in front of the housing community is the San Miguel Market, where fishermen can sell their fresh catch and other residents, particularly those who graduated from TESDA livelihood and training courses, can offer services and products.

Ang said the establishment of the San Miguel Market will complement the Sariaya Fishermen’s Dock which SMC inaugurated recently with the help of the local government of Sariaya and the Diocese of Lucena.

The multi-purpose Fishermen’s dock, sitting on a 3.5-hectare property, aims to increase the resilience of fishing communities as it can secure more than 100 boats, particularly during typhoon season, as its Sariaya Fisherman’s Hall, can serve as a rest area and storage for 70 boat engines and other fishing implements.

“Again, all of these facilities are geared towards making the relocatees more resilient and empowered to provide for their families and help in the greater goal of lifting the country out of the economic uncertainty due to COVID-19,” he said.

Recently, an initial batch of 50 trainees from San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes completed their skills training in Organic/Urban Farming/Edible Landscaping and Fish/Meat Processing under the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

For those engaged in organic agriculture, SMC provided a 1,000 square-meter plot in the housing community, where they can plant and regularly harvest vegetables for personal consumption and for sale.

Graduates of fish and meat processing can make various products at SMC-Gayeta Homes livelihood center and sell these for additional income.