SM SUPERMALLS, collectively, has given the owners and the country great pride in winning awards for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives "that have made a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals and communities."
This, despite the presence of the global pandemic of Covid-19.
Through its CSR arm, SM Cares, it received the Best Country Award for Overall CSR Excellence in the Philippines, despite competition from big conglomerates like SMC and the Ayala group.
The award cites SM Supermalls' demonstrated exemplary and relevant community-based initiatives with illustrated (read: actual results) and long-term results for its stakeholders.
Next, SM Supermalls also received the Gold CSR Leadership Award for continuous efforts and advocacies that enhanced social inclusion in all its business environments, helping communities displaced by calamities that were documented for the world to see.
Its other affiliates like SM Foundation were cited and given the Gold award for Excellence in provision for literacy and education for its scholarship program, running for several years thus helping more than 5,000 underprivileged Filipinos access to tertiary and technical-vocational education. The national government should acknowledge this feat by SM Supermalls as it helps in the enlightenment of thousands of marginalized Filipinos.
The other awards won by SM Supermalls were a Silver in the Best Environmental Excellence Award for its various programs aimed at energy efficiency, water conservation, responsible solid waste management and the promotion of eco-friendly practices including the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market.
Another award was Bronze for Best Community Program Award for its CSR advocacies particularly for the sector that needs more care and attention like women and breastfeeding mothers, persons with disabilities and special needs and, most importantly, the elderly.
Engineers Bien C. Mateo and Junias Eusebio along with Regional Operations Managers Andrea Madlangbayan, Bong Garcia, Ana Datu and Janzen Pe and the managers, assistant mall managers, building administrators and other officers all contributed to the overall success of the programs of SM Supermalls. Their fine work should be recognized.