San Miguel’s executive said rehabilitation is crucial to providing drug dependents a chance at restoring their lives.
Philippines’ largest corporation in terms of revenue, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), is donating P1 billion to the government to build new drug rehabilitation facilities, in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
This is the second time San Miguel is allotting a significant amount for a social cause, following the P1 billion it spent from 2012 to 2014 to build new houses for typhoon survivors.
San Miguel said it conducted initial talks with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to discuss the initiative.
“In the fight against illegal drugs, rehabilitation is crucial to providing drug dependents a chance at restoring their lives and becoming part of the solution to a better Philippines,” San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang said in a statement on Thursday, August 11.
San Miguel’s Ang said that the private sector could have a huge impact on government’s efforts when corporate social responsibility objectives are aligned with government initiatives.
“By supporting government in this endeavor, we are helping create an environment that will enable various sectors of our society to participate in and contribute to our country’s growth,” Ang said.
Aside from Ang, the PhilWeb Corporation’s recently-resigned chairman and former Trade Sec. Roberto Ongpin, said the firm is planning to spend between P2 million and P3 million a month to help the government address the lack of drug rehabilitation centers.
Ongpin resigned from PhilWeb after Duterte named him as one of the “oligarchs” he wants to destroy.
“I’m still very optimistic about this administration. And I’ll continue what I’m doing,” Ongpin said in an emergency stockholders’ meeting in Makati City.
Duterte had said that he plans to use military camps and facilities as a “stop gap measure” until the government can build dedicated centers all over the country.
