SMC clears 116K tons of silt, waste from San Juan River in maintenance cleanup

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San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is close to completing maintenance cleanup along the San Juan River, removing over 116,000 metric tons of waste and silt over the last 10 months to help improve water flow and reduce flood risk in San Juan, Manila, Mandaluyong and Quezon Cities.

This follows SMC’s cleanup of the river from 2022 to 2024, clearing the waterway of about 322,000 metric tons of silt and waste through 7.6 kilometers of its entire stretch.

SMC’s cleanup teams returned in September after monitoring showed a buildup of waste in the river traversing Mandaluyong, Manila and San Juan Cities. To date, 116,157 metric tons of waste and silt have been removed along 6.1 km of its waterway — from the Pasig River junction to Talayan, Quezon City — reflecting SMC’s commitment to preserving the gains of its river rehabilitation effort.

“Regular maintenance clean-ups are a key component of our Better Rivers PH initiative. Even if we have restored rivers to their natural depth, flow, and water-carrying capacity, improper waste disposal can aggravate silt buildup,” said SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

“At no cost to government and in coordination with local authorities, we will continue to monitor and ensure that these waterways are cleared of obstructions so they can carry floodwaters efficiently, especially during the rainy season,” he added.

The maintenance cleanup of the San Juan River forms part of SMC’s continuing support for the government’s flood mitigation drive, including the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Oplan Kontra Baha which was launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last year.

In line with that, Better Rivers PH launched its first cleanup effort in the Visayas last month, deploying dredging teams tasked to remove waste and silt from a four-kilometer section of the Butuanon River in Mandaue City, Cebu that has restricted water flow to the Mactan Channel.

Maintenance cleanup operations continue along Tullahan River, removing 177,384 metric tons of debris along a 6.4-km stretch; the Bulacan River System, clearing it of 723,393 metric tons of waste and silt through 13.38 km; and Laguna rivers, where 107,192 metric tons have been cleared from 2 km of waterways.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation work remains in the Parañaque, Las Piñas, Alabang, Tabang, and Tanza river systems, with the overall progress of the river cleanup initiative reaching 201.27 km of river channels and 9.3 million metric tons of waste and silt removed over the last six years.





PHOTOS:



Pic 1 At Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City



Pic 2 At Barangay Batis, San Juan City







Pic 3 AT Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City

Ateneo card game Herbularyo blends Filipino traditions and organic chemistry

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Herbularyo gets players acquainted with both organic chemistry and traditional Filipino medicine in as little as five to ten minutes of gameplay. The scientifically-grounded traditional Filipino remedies found in the game are based on real research from the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). PHOTO: OAVP-RCWI


Medicinal plants have long been a cornerstone of Philippine traditional medicine, dating back generations. Tawa-tawa, a low-growing herb that thrives in open grasslands, is a valued supplementary treatment for dengue; the gel of the succulent aloe vera can help soothe a scraped knee; boiled guava leaves help disinfect wounds; tea from the yerba buena helps relieve minor aches and pains; and ampalaya helps with managing diabetes.

These and many other medicinal plants have long been a part of the albularyo’s (Filipino folk healer’s) toolkit, their value and use passed down through oral traditions. Rooted as they are in word of mouth, it’s a surprise to many that Filipino folk medicine is grounded in hard science.

The remedies are familiar. The chemistry behind them, less so.

Researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Chemistry and Health Sciences Program are ingeniously addressing this gap by bringing Filipino medical herbal traditions into the science classroom via the educational card game, Herbularyo.

Folk traditions backed by science

Inspired by Filipino albularyo traditions, the game incorporates familiar Filipino cultural concepts into its gameplay. Each player takes on the role of a traditional healer racing to cure illnesses using cards featuring medicinal herbs and their active compounds. Special cards inspired by binat (relapse), sumpa (curse), and himala (miracle) add strategy and reflect beliefs that are deeply embedded in Philippine folk healing traditions.

As the game progresses, players match herbs with illnesses and identify the organic compounds found in each plant. In the process, the gameplay reinforces organic chemistry concepts through interaction rather than mere rote memorization.

All the plants featured in the game were drawn from the Encyclopedia of Common Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Volume 3, a reference published through a project funded by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). The book documents medicinal plants commonly used in the Philippines, along with scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic properties. Ateneo chemists Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit and Dr. Rene Angelo Macahig served as editors of the volume, helping bridge traditional knowledge and modern scientific research.


Developed by Ateneo de Manila University chemists, Herbularyo is a fast-paced card game that lets players learn more about some of the actual organic compounds used in traditional Filipino medicine. PHOTO: OAVP-RCWI


Rethinking science education

In classroom testing with high school and college students, Herbularyo proved to be an effective learning tool. Kids who played the game showed significantly greater learning gains, and also described the experience as engaging and enjoyable.

Herbularyo makes chemistry feel less distant and more connected to everyday life. This was a deliberate choice by its makers.

“We wanted to make a game that not only teaches organic chemistry and Filipino traditions, but also how these areas of knowledge can inform each other,” said Herbularyo co-developer Maryjane Magsino.

“We wanted to underscore the value of traditional Filipino medicine that has stood up to scientific testing yet is within easy reach practically in our own back yards.”

Indeed, herbal medicine continues to play an important role in traditional and alternative healthcare for many Filipinos, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where traditional remedies continue to complement conventional medicine.

Through Herbularyo, the researchers demonstrate that meaningful science education can begin with what students already know. Sometimes it begins with the plants growing in our backyards and the remedies in our spice rack.

By uncovering the chemistry behind familiar medicinal plants, the game not only makes organic chemistry more accessible but also encourages a new generation to see the value of the medicinal knowledge that has long been part of Filipino life, and hopefully makes supplementary and complementary medical remedies more accessible to all.

Maryjane T. Magsino, Inah Marie Q. Rivera, Armando M. Guidote Jr., and Genejane M. Adarlo published their research, Herbularyo: A Card Game for Learning Organic Compounds of Medicinal Herbs and Their Therapeutic Benefits, in the May 2026 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education.

Beyond Internet Access: What Drives Students’ Hybrid Learning Preferences?

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As higher education continues to adapt to post-pandemic hybrid learning, hybrid classrooms have become a familiar part of college life. While technology often sits at the center of discussions about blended learning, a discussion paper from the Far Eastern University (FEU) Public Policy Center (PPC) suggests that students’ preferences for hybrid learning may be shaped more by the value they place on human interaction than by technology itself.

The recently published discussion paper, “More Than a Connection: Attitudes Towards Faculty Interactions and Hybrid Learning,” draws on data from the 2022 College Experience Survey (CES), which gathered responses from 3,318 students across 15 Philippine higher education institutions. 

Using survey data, it was found that student attitudes toward faculty interaction and psychological safety emerged as important drivers of hybrid learning preferences. Meanwhile, technology access and self reported digital skills demonstrated less consistent relationships.

“Hybrid learning has become firmly embedded in the higher education landscape,” said FEU PCC President Michael A. Alba. “It is essential to make informed improvements to learning that are grounded in evidence. Through the CES, Philippine institutions are provided with valuable data and insights that can help refine hybrid learning models while preserving meaningful faculty-student interaction and maintaining high educational standards.”

Faculty interaction remains central to the learning experience

Interaction with faculty members continues to play a significant role in how students experience learning.

Students who placed a high value on interacting with faculty members were generally 19 times more inclined toward having more in-person classes. Results suggest that direct engagement with instructors remains an important part of the learning experience, one that online learning has yet to fully replicate.

While digital platforms have expanded access to learning, many students continue to see value in the connections and support that come from being physically present in the classroom. For first-year students in particular, opportunities for face-to-face interaction play an important role as they adjust to college life.

Technology alone does not determine hybrid learning preferences

Meanwhile, technology appeared to play a less straightforward role.

Access to technology and higher digital literacy skills did not automatically translate into a stronger preference for online learning. Contrary to expectations, students with reliable internet access were more likely to prefer additional days of campus instruction.

Even as universities invest in emerging technologies, such as FEU Tech’s recent collaboration with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Edu and Codex, digital and artificial intelligence tools appear most effective when they complement interaction between faculty and students.

Students continue to weigh health and well-being in learning decisions

Although the pandemic has largely subsided, health and psychological safety continue to influence students' preferences for different learning environments. Students who expressed greater concern about COVID-19 were generally less inclined to spend more time on campus. With most campuses having returned to normal operations, students still weigh well-being when considering alternative learning arrangements.

As institutions continue to refine blended learning models, the discussion paper suggests that policy efforts should look beyond investments in educational technology and digital infrastructure when designing effective modes of instruction. Rather than treating technology as the cornerstone of hybrid learning programs, Philippine institutions may benefit from developing educational approaches where meaningful faculty-student interactions remain central to the learning process, even as digital tools become more widely available and sophisticated.

For a more detailed discussion of the findings, readers may access the full discussion paper, “More Than a Connection: Attitudes Towards Faculty Interactions and Hybrid Learning.”

About the FEU Public Policy Center

The FEU Public Policy Center (FEU PPC) is a research center of Far Eastern University that produces evidence-based analysis on Philippine education and public policy. It conducts the annual College Experience Survey (CES), which has explored students' college experiences since 2014, and publishes discussion papers for preliminary research and discussion.