SM Cares launches digital campaign on Emergency Preparedness for the country’s vulnerable sectors

July 19, 2021
sm-cares-launches-digital-campaign-on-emergency-preparedness-for-the-countrys-vulnerable-sectors

SM Cares launches digital campaign on Emergency Preparedness for the country’s vulnerable sectors

“Survival Minutes” video series slated in observance of National Disaster Resilience Month

 

This National Disaster Resilience Month, SM Cares will be holding the very first digital iteration of its Emergency Preparedness Project for PWDs and Senior Citizens, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts to help vulnerable Filipinos be more prepared for emergencies. World-renowned expert on rescue and survival and Member of the Advisory Council of the International Disaster Response Network, Dr. Ted Esguerra, is set to return as this year's host and resource person.

Dubbed as “Survival Minutes”, the Emergency Preparedness video series is an initiative that aims to educate persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens on the importance of emergency preparedness by providing them with science-based information as well as practical emergency drills that are tailored to their needs. The campaign materials will be shared across multiple platforms, as well as through SM Cares’ partner organizations from the PWD and Senior Citizen sectors.

The Philippines ranks high among countries that are most vulnerable to disasters, coming at ninth in a disaster risk index list published by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in 2019.

Our country is very susceptible to disasters. During these emergencies, among the most affected are PWDs and the elderly, which is why they should be prioritized when it comes to education efforts on disaster preparedness,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SM SVP for Operations and Head of SM Cares Program on PWDs and Senior Citizens.

“Ang pag ligtas ng isang tao ay ang pag ligtas sa sangkatauhan. Sa kahirapan na pinagdadaanan ngayon ng mundo, laliman natin ang pag kalinga sa bawat isa, at dito kailangan ang tinatawag na bayanihan,” (To save someone, is to save everyone. With all the difficulties that the world is now going through, let us have more compassion for one another, and this is where we need “bayanihan”) said Dr. Esguerra

Survival Minutes is a series of four short video materials, each themed around one of the following natural hazards: Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption, Flood, and Fire. The videos will act as practical guides for PWDs and senior citizens, providing them with tips on what they can do during any of these four emergencies. The videos are slated for release this month of July.

The Emergency Preparedness for PWDs and Senior Citizens is one of the many ways SM Cares is supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: “Sustainable Cities and Communities” which aims to promote inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility of SM Supermalls, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the creation of bike-friendly SM Malls. To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.