THE SM supermalls has joined environmental advocates, government units and business leaders in creating awareness on disaster preparedness vis-à-vis the effects of climate change and global warming.
Glasiz May S. Latiza, public relations officer of SM City Marilao, said SM Supermalls is actively joining efforts in building disaster-risk resilience by hosting the Green Retail Agenda. “With the Green Retail Agenda, SM hopes to partner with host cities in disaster preparedness, risk reduction and humanitarian response, while deepening the commitment and cooperation of each stakeholder in making the Philippines safe and resilient,” Latiza said.
She said that this year’s conference was focused on preparedness for the unforeseen disaster to protect businesses and communities.
SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco also disclosed that SM is a member of the United Nations (UN) Office for Disaster Risk Reduction-Private Sector Partnerships and is actively doing its role to educate, create awareness, and emphasize action points within the private sector and other key stakeholders to ensure people are prepared and ready during and after calamities struck.
“Our partnership with the UN has propelled us to hold trainings, seminars, forums and conferences, such as this one to create awareness shared risks brought by climate change” Velasco said.
“Because disasters have become larger in scale, our conference is aimed to encourage everyone to be prepared,” she added.
Through the Green Retail Agenda, rosters of speakers shared their valued experiences, ideas, best practices, tools and technology, to empower communities and individuals in improving their capacity in emergency response and disaster preparedness.
The conference also helped in guiding each employee, tenants and communities in creating their own risk-reduction programs that address the risks they might face in the future.
The forum was participated in by disaster control experts, including Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Executive Director Liz Muncal, who tackled the “Utilizing Current Technology in Disaster Risks Management.”
Likewise, Disaster Management Team head Arnold Vytingco also tackled disaster preparedness and emergency-response management emphasizing on the logistic program and plan for the unforeseen disasters like storms, flood, earthquake and drought brought by climate change.
The conference also gave the audience an overview of the country’s vulnerability to disasters and the challenges, as well as opportunities in disaster risk reduction.
Image credits: From SM City Marilao’s Facebook Page