In celebration of National Disaster
Resilience Month, SM Cares recently launched this year’s Emergency Preparedness
Forum for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The first of
eight forums was held last July 5, Wednesday, at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall
in Pasay City.
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| (L-R) SM Markets AVP Rey Del Valle, UPRI Executive Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay, NCDA Executive Director Don Fradejas, NCSC Chairperson Atty. Frank Quijano, OCD Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director Ariel Nepomuceno, SM Supermalls SVP and SM Cares Director of Program for Persons with Disabilities Engr. Bien C. Mateo, MMDA Acting Asst. General Manager Atty Vic Trinidad, PHIVOLCS Supervising Science Research Specialist Jeffrey Perez, and PAGASA OIC Administrator Esperanza Cayanan, during the Pledge of Commitment signing. |
Prior to the forum, a pledge of commitment
signing was held between SM Supermalls and its partner organizations. Present
at the signing were SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Engr. Bien C. Mateo,
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno,
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Asst. General Manager
Atty. Victor Trinidad, National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairperson Atty.
Franklin M. Quijano, and National Council on Disability Affairs Executive
Director Joniro F. Fredejas.
Meanwhile, Senators Risa Hontiveros and
Loren Legarda, as well as Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary
Renato Solidum, gave special video messages addressed to the forum’s attendees.
Aside from being signatories, Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) OIC
Administrator Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Senior Supervising Science Research Specialist Jeffrey S.
Perez, and University of the Philippines Resilience Institute Executive
Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay shared their insights and observations in a panel
discussion on understanding natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and
volcanic eruptions, and how to prepare for such situations.
Disaster Management Specialist, Emergency
Medical Technician, and Wilderness Search and Rescue Philippines Instructor
Gerard “Doki” Natividad was also invited to share survival tips and tricks
tailored to the needs of the attendees.
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| Disaster Management Specialist Doki Natividad teaching a PWD delegate the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique without using mouth-to-mouth breathing |
Participants in the forum were provided an
SM Emergency Pack, which consists of an emergency string bag, a 4mm rope, an
emergency blanket, a whistle with lanyard, a mini-flashlight, and a survival
tool card. Earthquake and flood simulators were also prepared by PAGASA and
DOST to add to the participants’ learning experience.
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| Delegates from Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc. |
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| Senior citizen attendees pose for a photo op with their SM Cares emergency go-bags |
“In preparing for emergencies and
calamities, SM Cares believes that no one should be left behind. That is what
inspires us to continue mounting this Emergency Preparedness Forum,” said
Mateo. “Our goal is to empower our senior citizens and PWDs with the essential
survival skills and know-how so that they will be ready for any circumstance.”
Since the forum first began in 2015, SM
Cares has been able to provide training to 7,417 senior citizens and PWDs
across the country since the forum’s conception, and was awarded Gold in 2020
and Silver in 2023 at the Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ annual
Anvil Awards.
This initiative shows SM Cares’ support for
the United Nations’ 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.
To learn more about these programs, visit
www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.
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