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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| Photo
highlights during the Emergency Preparedness Forum on July 5, 2023. |
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.
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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. |
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.
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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| Disaster
Management Specialist Doki Natividad teaching a PWD delegate the
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique without using mouth-to-mouth
breathing. |
“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.”
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|
Senior
citizen attendees pose for a photo op with their SM Cares emergency go-bags.
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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.
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| Delegates from Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc. |
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.
