Micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) tenants and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-supported entrepreneurs gear up for resilience through SM Supermalls’ nationwide Business Continuity Plan workshops.
SM Supermalls champions resilience as a shared responsibility, empowering communities and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) tenants nationwide.
Resilience continues to be a crucial component of SM Supermalls’ quest for sustainability. It becomes challenging to realize the goal of sustainable development in the absence of communities that are safe, secure, and prepared. For this reason, the corporation feels that fostering resilience is a duty to the enterprises and communities that make up the foundation of the economy as well as a matter of operational readiness.
Micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) are at the center of this effort. These companies are frequently the most susceptible to interruptions from both man-made and natural dangers. However, they are a vital component of the national economy, creating jobs, promoting regional trade, and maintaining livelihoods. Understanding their significance, SM Supermalls has made it a top goal to support the development of a robust MSME sector.
Across its network, close to 70 percent of SM Supermalls’ tenants are currently MSMEs. These businesses operate under unique lessee contracts that acknowledge their specific needs and challenges. To support them, SM not only provides space but also promotes an environment that values preparedness and long-term continuity.
Beyond providing retail spaces, SM Supermalls promotes micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) resilience through emergency drills and dedicated Business Continuity Planning (BCP) initiatives.
SM Supermalls’ most notable resilience initiative for its MSME tenants is a dedicated Business Continuity Planning (BCP) program launched in 2024. This capacity-building initiative enables businesses to develop tailored Business Continuity Plans and implement adaptive measures to reduce the impact of disruptions.
SM’s tenants are each provided with free access to 5GB of remote digital storage where they can securely store critical business documents such as their BCPs, permits, registrations, and insurance policies, among others. In the event of a disaster, access to these documents becomes seamless, allowing faster processing of insurance claims and a quicker return to operations.
To further scale its impact, SM Supermalls established a public-private partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement in 2024. Together with ARISE Philippines, a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)-affiliated private sector alliance for disaster resilience, the partnership aims to ensure that 6,000 MSMEs have robust BCPs by the end of 2027.
Business continuity subject matter experts guide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in crafting their own Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) for their company.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau of Small Medium Enterprise Development and SM Supermalls representatives join together in disaster risk resilience awareness and business continuity for micro, small and medium enterprises.
This collaboration is led by DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona and Bureau of Small Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) Director Emma Asusano, alongside SM Supermalls’ Corporate Resilience Department. The shared goal is clear: to safeguard MSMEs nationwide through proactive preparedness.
One key feature of the initiative is the SM-DTI Calamity Recovery (CARE) Booth, activated during times of calamity. Located in malls with communities impacted by disasters, the booth serves as an accessible touchpoint for MSMEs needing post-disaster support—providing a practical and timely response mechanism that bridges the gap between public resources and private needs.
Additionally, in partnership with DTI, SM Supermalls frequently offers BCP workshops for MSMEs. Both SM tenants and DTI-assisted MSMEs are welcome to attend these sessions, which are held in centralized SM locations throughout different regions. The hazards posed by various disaster types are explained to business owners during these workshops, and they receive step-by-step guidance on creating their own business continuity plans. The sessions include the BCP testing and validation phase to guarantee practical application and efficacy, and these plans are customized to the particulars of their activities, including their location and nature.
Participants have one month to complete their BCPs, which need to be submitted to DTI after being approved by their company management. More than 1,500 MSMEs have received training since the program’s September 2024 inception, and more are planned for the upcoming months.
“Resilience is not built overnight, and requires education, commitment, and collaboration across different sectors. Knowing this, SM Supermalls continues to invest in long-term resilience not just for its business, but for the broader ecosystem of MSMEs it supports,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “In doing so, we are reinforcing the fundamental truth that sustainable progress is only possible when communities and businesses are prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow.”
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