CLARK FREEPORT – Considering that senior citizens as well as persons with disabilities (PWDs) are the most vulnerable during emergency situations like disasters and calamities, SM Cares conducted an Emergency Preparedness Forum (EPF) for their safety and awareness.
Venus Manalang, SM City Clark public relations officer, said the EPF was conducted on June 21 at the mall with Dr. Arturo Daag, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Dr. Ted Esguerra of the International Disaster Response Network.
With the theme: “Robust Preparedness Programs for SM-wide Resiliency Campaign,” SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., said the EPF is its continuing thrust to make PWDs and aenior citizens more resilient and better prepared in times of disasters. SM Cares now brings the forum across five SM malls nationwide from June 21 to July 12 in observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month.
This is the 5th EPF from what started in a single venue and with now five SM malls nationwide.
It was gathered that the project is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 11: To make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
It is projected that by 2050, 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in cities, making sustainability a critical priority.
SM, together with government agencies and community members, are collectively engaged in pursuing objectives to make cities safer, more resource-efficient, resilient and inclusive.
Participating malls include SM City Clark (June 21), SM City Marikina (July 2), SM City Dasmariñas (July 5), SM City Batangas (July 9), and SM Center Muntinlupa (July 12), all happening at the mall’s event centers from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
“For our elderlies, we have our undeniable limitations such as mobility and sensory capacities. They may know that there is an emergency, but are unable to act upon it. We want to enlighten them that there are responses that they can do that best fits their situation. This is one way we want to strengthen the communities of our senior citizens,” said Danilo Chavez, SM Cares Program Director for Senior Citizens.
