100,000 kilos of trash collected by over 17,000 volunteers across SM Malls Nationwide

DT·20 September 2023, 12:02 am·1 min read

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100,000 kilos of trash collected by over 17,000 volunteers across SM Malls Nationwide — From L to R: Geronimo Reyes, International Coastal Cleanup PhilippinesProject Head; Orliber D. Paule, SM Estates SAVP; Joaquin San Agustin, SMSupermalls SVP Marketing; Atty. Michael Drake P. Matias, DENR-NCR OIC, Regional Executive Director; Jessica Bianca T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. ProjectDirector AVP; Hon. Emi Rubiano-Calixto,Mayor of Pasay City; Atty. Ignatius Loyola Rodriguez, DENR Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Legislative Affairs; Perkin Bentley So, SM Supermalls SAVP - Mall Operations

SM City Legazpi volunteers are ready to clean the coast of Legazpi Boulevard.

SM Cares continues to drive active participation in ocean conservation by taking part once again in this year's International Coastal Cleanup Day last September 16, 2023, Saturday.

SM City Olongapo Central and SM City Olongapo Downtown return to Kalaklan Parola for a clean-up.

SM City Tuguegarao & SM Center Tuguegarao Dowtown.

SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu clean Kinalumsan River by SRP.

Coastal barangays by Puerto Princesa Bay clean up with SM City Puerto Princesa.

SM City Mindpro show their trash collected along Basilan Strait.

SM City General Santos volunteers clear up Bauayan River.

SM's goal was to gather the biggest haul of trash and marine debris. This year's efforts amounted to 100,432.50kg collected with the support of SM's biggest participation since 2015 – 15 SM malls in 12 locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This enabled more volunteers, totaling 17,026 SM employees and members of various sectors to join more clean-ups throughout the country.

SM spearheads numerous cleanup drives throughout the year in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). In line with this year's UN Ocean Decade Challenge, Sustainably Feed the Global Population, SM's projects on water conservation, including the recycling and treatment of water from handwashing and rainwater harvesting, highlights the importance of community initiative in minimizing pollution, protecting fisheries and helping maintain potable water sources for everyone.

"We all have a responsibility to help protect and safeguard our marine environment, its resources, and the communities it serves," said SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment Engr. Liza B. Silerio. "A cleaner ocean means a better future for generations to come."