SMC gives gov’t P1B for drug rehab

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has donated P1 billion to typhoon relief in recent years, making it the single biggest donor in Philippine business history, but today the country’s largest conglomerate is broadening its corporate social responsibility program to be in tune with the times.

SMC yesterday announced that it would match its earlier record and donate another P1 billion to the government for the building of rehabilitation facilities as part of President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“Peace and order is the key to our country’s progress and development,” SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang said in a statement.

“More significantly, our human capital is key. By supporting the 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,” he said.

The exact disposition of the funds from the 125-year-old firm will be determined by “concerned agencies of the government,” SMC  said.

San Miguel—with group-wide assets of P1.3 trillion, and revenues of P329 billion in the first half of 2016—earlier donated P500 million for housing projects in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City in the wake of Tropical Storm “Sendong” (international name: Washi), and another P500 million for a similar project in Leyte after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).

“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,” Ang said. “This way, we save lives, protect families and build better communities.”

The company said it had conducted initial talks with the Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, to discuss the initiative.

Dela Rosa has conveyed to Ang the growing need for more drug rehabilitation centers around the country because the existing establishments are either for profit facilities whose services are beyond the reach of the average Filipino or, in the case of the more affordable rehabilitation centers, already crowded.

Earlier reports pegged the cost of rehabilitation services at existing centers at P20,000 to P100,000 a month.

Over the last decade, San Miguel has diversified from its traditional food, beverage and packaging businesses to industries key to national development. These include infrastructure, power generation, and oil refining and marketing.

The company said the private sector could make a significant contribution to the government’s efforts when corporate social responsibility objectives were aligned with state initiatives.