SM Supermalls builds a culture of resilience through disaster preparedness

Where natural hazards like typhoons and earthquakes are part of daily reality, resilience is not optional. It is a critical part of how businesses operate and how communities endure. The private sector plays a vital role in shaping disaster preparedness, and SM Supermalls has positioned itself as a leader in this effort through long-term planning, collaboration, and a deep commitment to community safety.

SM’s resilience strategy goes beyond business continuity. The company continues to invest in systems and partnerships that help safeguard lives and strengthen public trust. For SM, being disaster-ready means having the tools, training, and coordination needed to act quickly and effectively when emergencies occur.

A key part of this strategy is the adoption of the Incident Command System or ICS. Originating from the United States, ICS is a standardized approach to emergency response, widely used for its efficiency and clarity. It establishes a clear chain of command and defined roles, allowing teams from different organizations, including government responders and private sector units, to work in sync during high-stress situations. With ICS in place, resource management improves, communication becomes streamlined, and accountability is strengthened.

SM’s commitment is reinforced through regular emergency drills across its malls, including participation in nationwide earthquake and fire drills led by the Bureau of Fire Protection. The company also supports the quarterly Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills conducted by the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. These activities involve employees and mall tenants, reinforcing a culture of readiness that extends beyond the organization itself.

Seventy-nine SM malls are now certified under the Business Continuity Management Systems. This level of certification demonstrates a consistent and structured approach to disaster risk reduction, serving as both internal validation and a public benchmark for the wider business community.

A central part of SM’s resilience framework is its dedicated resilience center, which serves as a command hub during major disruptions. In emergencies, this facility connects all SM malls through rapid information exchange and coordinated decision-making.

SM’s disaster readiness approach took center stage during the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Manila. On the last day of the conference, SM City Clark became the focal point of an ICS demonstration attended by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Resilience and foreign delegates. The event showcased a unified response involving mall management, the Clark and Angeles municipalities, the BFP, OCD Region 3, and NDRRMC. Together, they enacted coordinated procedures designed to enhance public safety, offering an up-close look at how integrated disaster response works in a real-world environment.

“By investing in frameworks like the ICS, SM Supermalls demonstrates that resilience is not a reactive measure but an ongoing commitment,” said SM Supermalls Vice President Engr. Liza Silerio. “In a landscape defined by environmental vulnerability, this commitment provides not only peace of mind but a tangible sense of preparedness for employees, tenants, and the public at large.”

In preparation for the site visit, SM Supermalls partnered with ARISE Philippines, the Private Sector Alliance for Resilient Societies, to conduct an ICS workshop alongside the OCD. This training brought together heads of operations, human resources, security, and Information Technology from SM City Clark and nearby locators such as Park Inn Hotel. Facilitated by experts from the BFP and the Philippine Army, the workshop provided hands-on training in ICS protocol, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to capacity-building at the local level.

SM’s vision for resilience is expansive and continuous. Following the success of the Clark initiative, the company is now preparing to roll out the next phase of ICS workshops, beginning with SM Mall of Asia and expanding to regional malls across the country. This nationwide implementation reflects a long-term strategy that prioritizes safety, community cohesion, and operational readiness.

Through proactive strategies and sustained partnerships with government and civil society, SM is building more than safe spaces. It is also cultivating a culture of resilience that empowers people and protects communities in the face of any uncertainty, reiterating its commitment to promoting a more disaster-ready Philippines.