SMC vows inclusive growth for Bulacan, builds livelihood center
SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) has ramped up efforts to ensure sustainable livelihood and business opportunities for close to 500 families living in Bulakan, Bulacan with the launch of a livelihood center and formal establishment of a consumers’ cooperative, even as it continues to work on preparing the future site of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA).
Through the San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI) Livelihood Center, Bulakan citizens who used to reside at the NMIA project site can avail of training support and immediately apply the skills they’ve learned, to earn a stable income for their families at the livelihood center located in Barangay San Nicolas, Bulakan.
“Our continuing efforts to engage residents and local officials in Bulakan has allowed us to fine-tune our existing livelihood restoration programs, as well as come up with new initiatives that will adapt to their needs,” SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
“With these, we can better ensure that the economic growth that the NMIA will bring in the coming years, will be inclusive and will be felt by Bulacan residents and the rest of the country,” he added.
The SMAI Livelihood Center is a partnership between SMAI, the Bulacan provincial office of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Gintong Aral Foundation.
The launch of the SMAI Livelihood Center, led by SMAI Project Lead Cecile Ang and Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, also coincided with the formal creation of the Livelihood sa Pag-unlad (Lipad) consumer cooperative.
Earlier this year, SMC also partnered with church organization Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) for a mushroom farming and processing project that has benefited 70 families in Bulakan.
Through this program, relocatees are earning guaranteed income with 12 families already growing mushroom at their respective homes.