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.
To learn more about these programs, visit www.
smsupermalls.com/smcares
