The race to stop the spread of Covid-19 through vaccination continues and SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is stepping on the gas to protect its residents and employees.
Partnering with local government units and the Philippine Red Cross, the country’s largest and fastest growing real estate developer recently inoculated 1,200 condominium residents in four of its properties, namely Mezza Residences, Mezza II Residences, Grass Residences, and Trees Residences all in Quezon City. SMDC President Jose Mari Banzon said the company is grateful for the support of the Quezon City government and the Red Cross, and for the willingness of SMDC residents to be vaccinated.
The entire SM Group has been actively supporting the government’s vaccination program with the inoculation of its employees and opening its malls as vaccination sites, and SMDC saw the need to join the vaccination campaign after an informal survey revealed majority of its residents have not availed of the government’s inoculation programs yet.
The amenity areas in SMDC developments served as safe vaccination venues. The Red Cross ensured the proper sanitation of these areas and provided medical personnel to administer the vaccines. A number of medical doctors and nurses, who are also residents of SMDC properties, volunteered to help.
Several senior citizens living in SMDC Residences expressed their appreciation of the company’s initiative which made it easier for them to be vaccinated. They said they were initially hesitant to leave the comforts of their condominium units to get vaccinated for fear of catching the virus in crowded and unsanitized areas. “Mabuti na lang dito na mismo sa community namin ginawa ang vaccination. Hindi na kami kailangan lumayo pa. Mahirap talaga lumabas pag senior na kasi dahil baka ma-expose pa ako sa virus,” one of them said.
SMDC has also rolled out a vaccination drive for its employees and sales agents to ensure a safe work environment, and so individuals who would like to approach an SMDC sales agent to inquire about a property can safely do so.
SMDC plans to continue rolling out its vaccination drive, working together with LGUs and the Philippine Red Cross for its other developments.