SM Cares continues to empower senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to become more resilient in the face of disasters with the return of the organization’s annual Emergency Preparedness Forum, in partnership with Office of Civil Defense, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and the UP Resilience Institute.
In celebration of National Disaster Resilience Month, this year’s forum is set to be held the entire month of July in eight different locations, starting on July 5, 2023, Wednesday, at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City. Subsequent locations include SM City Tuguegarao, SM City San Pablo, SM Center Lemery, SM City Consolacion, SM Center Ormoc, SM Lanang Premier, and SM City Bacolod.
The Emergency Preparedness Forum was designed with the goal of helping vulnerable sectors like senior citizens and PWDs become better prepared for unforeseen events. The event will include lectures from emergency preparedness and disaster resilience experts like PHIVOLCS Supervising Science Research Specialist Mr. Jeffrey Perez, PAGASA Officer-In-Charge Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, and University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) Executive Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay.
Meanwhile, essential and practical survival tips tailored to the needs of senior citizens and PWDs will also be shared by rescue and survival expert, Dr. Ted Esguerra.
“SM Cares believes that emergency preparedness should be inclusive. Senior citizens and PWDs are the sectors that are most vulnerable and at risk during natural disasters, and we want them to be equipped and ready for whatever may come,” said SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Engr. Bien C. Mateo. “The Emergency Preparedness Forum this year will be introduced to new locations with the goal of building more resilient communities.”
SM Cares’ Emergency Preparedness Forum has shown consistent success and growth since it first began. In 2022, SM Cares recorded a total of 1,983 forum participants across 4 sessions. The initiative also shows SM Cares’ support of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly “SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being”, “SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities”, and “SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities”.
SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, supporting initiatives focused on communities and the environment. Its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly initiative.