How SM supports communities through disaster relief and education

SM Group continues to strengthen its commitment to community resilience by providing immediate assistance to underserved areas during times of crisis. Through SM Foundation, the company has distributed 982,415 Kalinga Packs and conducted 783 relief missions to date, reinforcing its role as a key partner in disaster response and recovery.

In 2024, SM Foundation, in collaboration with SM Supermalls and SM Markets, conducted 41 Operation Tulong Express (OPTE) missions, distributing over 108,000 Kalinga Packs to disaster-affected communities. OPTE serves as the group’s disaster relief initiative, delivering essential supplies such as food and medicine to those in need.

“The SM Group, through SM Foundation, has been working directly with communities to give them the assistance they require, especially in times of calamities and natural disasters, by leveraging our corporate assets to secure resources. We are committed to being a responsible neighbor in the communities where we operate,” shared Debbie Sy, SM Foundation Executive Director.

She emphasized that SM Foundation collaborates across SM business units to coordinate relief efforts. SM Markets provides Kalinga Packs containing water, rice, and ready-to-eat meals, while Airspeed and 2GO assist in logistics and transport. SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, supplies additional relief goods, and SM mall employees play a key role in distributing aid to affected areas. During disasters, SM malls also serve as temporary shelters, providing rest areas and charging stations for displaced families.

While education has long been a core advocacy of SM Foundation, its involvement in disaster response deepened in 2013 following Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which devastated Eastern Visayas. This marked the foundation’s holistic approach to assisting affected communities, which now includes immediate relief operations, medical missions, scholarship programs, school rebuilding initiatives, housing assistance, and livelihood training for farmers.

Today, SM Foundation’s targeted social investments extend across education, healthcare, livelihood, and shelter. Sy said the foundation actively engages with affected communities through direct dialogues to ensure its programs align with their immediate and long-term needs. She also emphasized that impact assessments are conducted to continuously improve their initiatives.

Recognizing education’s role in resilience-building, SM Foundation has been active in restoring and rebuilding schools in disaster-hit areas. Past projects include rehabilitating Sta. Barbara Central Elementary School in Zamboanga City and a fire-damaged school in Tagbilaran City. To date, SM Foundation has constructed 110 school buildings and over 370 classrooms, enhancing local education systems while integrating disaster preparedness measures. The foundation has also installed handwashing facilities and distributed hygiene kits to schools to promote health and safety.

With a long-term commitment to inclusive growth, SM Foundation continues to act as a partner in community resilience, ensuring that support is available in both good times and bad.