March 2026

Through its corporate social responsibility division, SM Cares, SM Supermalls organized coastal cleanup events in six locations with seven participating malls nationwide in honor of World Water Day, reaffirming its long-standing dedication to sustainable waste management and environmental stewardship in its most beloved malls.

This year’s coastal cleanup focused on improving trash segregation education to help communities and volunteers better understand how to properly sort, recycle, and dispose of collected debris. It also emphasized how important it is to conserve marine habitats through commonplace activities like recycling and proper waste disposal.

The coastal cleanup activities took place across SM City La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Tanza, SM City Daet, SM City Consolacion, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM J Mall, bringing together communities in a shared effort to protect local coastal environments and divert waste away from the ocean.

During the cleanups, collected waste was carefully sorted and categorized, allowing participants to see firsthand the types of materials commonly found in coastal areas—from plastic packaging and beverage containers to other discarded items that threaten marine life and coastal habitats.

By focusing on waste analysis and segregation, raised awareness on the impact of improperly managed waste and encouraged Filipinos to adopt more responsible environmental practices in their daily lives.

These coastal cleanup activities form part of SM Supermalls’ broader environmental sustainability programs, aligned with the SM Green Movement and the company’s Waste-Free Future campaign.

“Protecting our coastal and marine environments requires a more proactive, end-to-end approach with the cleanups starting with education, deepening awareness, and sustaining collective action,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director for Environment and Sustainability of SM Supermalls. “By helping communities understand the importance of proper waste segregation and responsible waste management, we hope to inspire long-term behavioral change that benefits both people and the planet.”

The initiative also highlights the spirit of bayanihan, bringing together mall communities, environmental partners, and local stakeholders in a shared effort to care for the environment.

As SM Cares continues to strengthen its sustainability programs throughout the year, the public is encouraged to participate in upcoming environmental initiatives, including World Oceans Day Cleanup Drives in June, International Coastal Cleanup activities in September, and National Environmental Awareness Month initiatives in November.

SM Cares continues to encourage communities to participate in environmental protection—all for Filipinos and all for the planet—through persistent initiatives like these.

Go to https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares to find out more about SM Cares’ environmental activities and how you can participate in future projects.

Prudence Foundation and UNICEF Philippines launched their partnership through the REACH programme to help protect children and communities from climate-related health risks.
In photo (from left): Carmen Gonzalez Ortiz, Chief of Private Sector Fundraising, UNICEF Philippines; Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines; Sanjay Chakrabarty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pru Life UK; Atty. Calvin Kohchet-Chua, Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer, Pru Life UK; and Ai Yoon Soo, Senior Manager for Climate and Health Resilience, Prudence Foundation.

Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, has partnered with UNICEF Philippines to help safeguard children and communities in the Philippines from the increasing health risks brought about by climate change.

Through the REACH programme, the initiative seeks to enhance health and social protection systems, enabling them to better address climate-related threats such as extreme heat and air pollution, which have a greater impact on children.

REACH, which stands for Resilience, Environment, and Child Health – Strengthening Health and Social Protection Systems in the Philippines, will support efforts to develop climate-adaptive primary health care systems, strengthen preparedness and response to heat stress and air pollution, and enhance shock-responsive social protection mechanisms for vulnerable families.

The programme will be implemented by UNICEF Philippines in partnership with the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Climate Change Commission, and local government units in Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

With support from Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, and Pru Life UK, the programme highlights the importance of strengthening resilience for children and communities faced with increasing frequency and intensity of climate risks.

“As the community investment arm of Prudential plc, Prudence Foundation focuses on building climate and health resilience through long‑term, collaborative solutions. Our partnership with UNICEF Philippines under the REACH programme reflects this commitment, supporting stronger health and social protection systems to better protect children from climate‑related health risks,” said Nicole Ngeow, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation.

Sanjay Chakrabarty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pru Life UK, said:

“Climate change is increasingly affecting the health and wellbeing of children and communities across the Philippines. Through the REACH programme, we are supporting efforts to strengthen systems that protect children from climate-related health risks such as extreme heat and air pollution. By working with UNICEF and government partners, we hope to help build stronger and more resilient health and social protection systems that can better safeguard children today, and in the future,” added Chakrabarty.

Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines, highlighted the partnership’s significance in addressing the stakes for children:

 “For children whose bodies are still growing, climate change can quickly become a health emergency. Protecting them requires climate‑adaptive, shock‑responsive systems, and strong partnerships. Through REACH, our work with the Prudence Foundation shows how government, civil society, young people, and the private sector can deliver solutions where they matter most. UNICEF mobilises private sector partners as advocates for child rights and responsible business, helping build a more resilient future for every child in the Philippines.”

Children are especially at risk from environmental and climate-related health threats because of their specific needs and dependence on reliable healthcare, clean air, and safe surroundings. Enhancing these systems will help communities become more resilient to climate-related shocks and better safeguard children’s health and overall wellbeing.

• The  Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines and DENR-BMB convened PMC 2026 from March 24–26 in Quezon City, uniting government, science, communities, and the private sector to assess a decade of mangrove commitments and forge accountable pathways for coastal resilience.
• The Conference delivered key milestones — the NBCAP Roadmap 2026–2030 under full government stewardship, the Blue Carbon Quantification Protocol as the country’s first science-based carbon accounting framework, and the National State of the Coasts 2025 Report — anchoring mangrove conservation in national policy and science.
• Six sectors closed with concrete, time-bound pledges for 2028, reinforcing a shared commitment to community-centered stewardship, coastal governance, and sustainable financing for mangrove ecosystems.

Delegates from government, NGOs, academe, youth, and local communities gathered at the Philippine Mangrove Conference 2026 in Quezon City, underscoring the need to align science, policy, and grassroots action for mangrove conservation and climate resilience.

The Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), recently launched the Philippine Mangrove Conference (PMC) 2026, themed “Ensuring Accountable Pathways for Resilient Communities,” held at Microtel Technohub in Quezon City by Wyndham UP Technohub from March 24 to 26. The event gathered representatives from government, academe, civil society, the private sector, youth, and community leaders to align science, policy, and financing in support of mangrove conservation and restoration.

“Protecting mangroves has become a development priority for a country as vulnerable to climate impacts as the Philippines,” said Dr. Annadel Cabanban, Country Manager, Wetlands International Philippines and Lead Convenor of the Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines. “Aligning interventions across government, communities, scientific institutions, and the private sector with the country’s climate commitments is essential to restore these ecosystems at scale.”

Building on a decade of national dialogue

Since 2012, the Philippines has held four National Mangrove Conferences and a National State of the Mangrove Summit in 2019, each surfacing the same urgent priorities: science-based rehabilitation, coastal zoning, community stewardship, and climate adaptation. Nine policy recommendations carried across all four conferences, yet many remain unimplemented. This year’s conference was convened to take stock, build on what worked, and forge stronger pathways forward.

Participants explored interactive exhibits showcasing rehabilitation projects, fisheries management initiatives, and community‑driven conservation programs. The exhibit hall served as a learning space where organizations share data, success stories, and insights on transforming mangrove sites across the Philippines.

The Philippines once had approximately 500,000 hectares of mangrove cover — a figure sharply reduced by logging, aquaculture expansion, and coastal development. National data show a partial recovery, with satellite analyses recording roughly 240,824 hectares in 2010 and an increase to approximately 311,400 hectares by 2020, reflecting the gains of sustained rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

Grounding mangrove conservation to local realities

Community stewardship remains central to progress. In Negros Occidental — where 25 of 32 local government units are coastal — mangrove restoration is embedded in local policy, linking conservation directly to community gains: improved fish catch, livelihoods, and ecotourism. “Restoring mangroves is about helping communities live sustainably alongside them,” said Atty. Julie Bedrio, Provincial Environment Management Officer. “With knowledge, resources, and support, mangrove protection becomes stronger and more sustainable.”

Atty. Julie Bedrio, Provincial Environment Management Officer of Negros Occidental, highlighted the province’s efforts to strengthen mangrove conservation through coastal greenbelt zoning, technical capacity building, and inter-sectoral cooperation among local governments, NGOs, and communities.

The Conference engaged private sector, community, and youth-led organizations — including the Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association and Mangrove Matters PH — on their roles in on-the-ground conservation. Imelda Mazo, President of the Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association in Coron, Palawan, shared how their work has evolved beyond planting into monitoring and learning alongside scientists. “Conservation is a long-term commitment, like raising a child. It is never simple. Nature-based solutions are, at their core, about science, and we in the community have come to believe that deeply,” she said.

The Conference also featured the launch of the National State of the Coasts (NSOC) 2025 Report, estimating the ocean economy at USD 15 billion or 3.8% of GDP in 2024 — while noting that only 1.42% of Philippine sea area remains under Marine Protected Areas.

The final day of PMC 2026 delivered two landmark moments for blue carbon science and governance. The National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP) Roadmap 2026–2030 was formally turned over from ZSL Philippines to DENR institutionalizing the country’s blue carbon agenda under government stewardship. Alongside it, the Blue Carbon Quantification Protocol (BCQP), which was co-developed by Filipino scientists with DENR and conservation partners, was launched as the country’s first credible, field-applicable carbon accounting framework. Together, both milestones translate the Conference’s science-to-policy ambitions into concrete national action.

Delivering on accountability: Sectoral commitments through 2028

True to its theme, the Conference closed with six sectors pledging concrete, time-bound targets for 2028:

• People’s Organizations — Restore and protect local mangrove areas through sustainable livelihoods such as eco-tourism, nursery production, beekeeping, and fish processing.
• Academia — Establish provincial mangrove data hubs and a national blue carbon research agenda.
• Government Agencies — Develop a unified ocean governance framework integrating mangrove ecosystems and science-based coastal management.
• Private Sector — Publish integrated mangrove aquaculture protocols and restore 100 hectares of mangroves through community cohorts.
• Local Governments — Expand coastal greenbelt ordinances and embed blue carbon governance into local resource management plans.
• Civil Society — Establish new Local Conservation Areas, advance the National Coastal Greenbelt Bill, and secure financing for a GMA Philippines Secretariat.

All commitments will be monitored through future national platforms, ensuring that accountability remains an ongoing practice. The Conference also aligned national mangrove conservation initiatives with the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—strengthening a collective commitment to safeguarding mangrove ecosystems, coastal livelihoods, and the resilience of future generations.

The plenary concluded with six sectors pledging time‑bound targets for 2028 — from communities restoring mangroves through eco‑livelihoods, to academia, government, private sector, local governments, and civil society advancing science, governance, and financing. These collective commitments reinforce accountability and strengthen coastal resilience.

Inspired by the spirit of “Padayon”—a Filipino term for pressing forward with purpose despite challenges—the Conference has launched a new phase of science-based, community-focused mangrove stewardship.

“This roadmap and these commitments are not the end. They are the beginning,” said Edwina Garchitorena, Lead for ZSL Philippines. “The tools we have built together must now reach the communities and local governments who manage these resources. We call on all partners to sustain this momentum and invest in solutions that work for both people and nature.”

What if you could influence how you work and make money one day? Trabaho at Negosyo redefines the job fair as a career launchpad that links Filipinos to jobs, mentorship, and skills for the future by fusing employment and entrepreneurship.

Thousands participated as Go Negosyo, in partnership with SM Supermalls, mounted the March 6 Trabaho at Negosyo at SM Mall of Asia—transforming a single day into a career crossroads all for Filipinos. Fully supported by SM Job Fairs and SM for MSMEs, this comprehensive event created vital community opportunities by matching job seekers with employers and providing aspiring entrepreneurs with expert mentorship and clear pathways to success.

“MSMEs like us contribute to the economy because as we expand, so does our requirements – like manpower, so we are able to contribute through creating jobs.” – JORGE WIENEKE of Tokyo Tempura

At the heart of the event was a large-scale job fair connecting applicants with employers from key sectors including BPO and IT, manufacturing, construction, real estate, healthcare and medical services, retail, financial services, tourism, hotels and restaurants, and the academe. Just steps away, aspiring entrepreneurs received practical mentoring on how to turn business ideas, side hustles, and small enterprises into sustainable ventures—demonstrating how trabaho and negosyo can grow side by side.

With SM Job Fairs providing the platform and reach, employment opportunities were brought closer to communities—making job access more immediate, practical, and inclusive. Meanwhile, SM for MSMEs highlighted the vital role of micro, small, and medium enterprises not only as businesses, but as job generators and engines of inclusive growth. While many participants were hired on the spot, others left inspired to build enterprises that could create jobs for others.

“Nakakatuwa po, ang bilis. In-expect ko po babalik pa ako. Masaya po ako, hindi na ako tambay! Sa tingin ko po mago-grow po ako sa bago kong work.” – MA. FLOREBEL QUILILAN, Hired on the Spot by Hi Precision

To further streamline the journey from application to employment, SM Government Service Express enabled participants to process key requirements on-site. Participating agencies included the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund—making essential services more accessible in one convenient location.

“Maganda po na nandito sa ganitong event, kasi we’re not just hiring, but we’re also on the lookout for opportunities for our business with the other businesses here, para po to compliment each other.”- MELODY ADVIENTO of Clinica Manila

Trabaho at Negosyo tells a bigger story—today’s job seeker can become tomorrow’s employer. By combining job matching, MSME mentoring, and government services in one space, the initiative reflects a forward-thinking approach to workforce development where employment and entrepreneurship reinforce each other.

SM Supermalls’ dedication to empowering Filipinos is strengthened by partnerships such as these, which support local businesses and livelihoods and demonstrate that communities advance when trabaho and negosyo work together.

To learn more, visit msme.smsupermalls.com or email [email protected].

SM Group now generates the largest capacity of clean energy among property developers in the Philippines

SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) has installed rooftop solar power systems throughout its properties and nationwide network of SM Supermalls in order to lessen grid congestion and enhance power availability to the communities it serves.

Clean solar energy produced by SM is now sufficient to power a city the size of Mabalacat, Pampanga, or Mandaue, Cebu, thanks to its groundbreaking installation of solar panels over SM North EDSA in 2014.

“The use of solar power enables SM Supermalls to elevate the service we provide to our customers by embedding sustainability into our daily operations,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “When Filipinos visit their most-loved SM malls, they are entering a space that actively helps preserve the environment through responsible resource management, reducing carbon emissions while ensuring more resources remain available for our surrounding communities.”

Maximizing space makes room for energy efficiency

SM currently utilizes 65 hectares of space for its rooftop solar panels—which is almost as big as the entire SM Mall of Asia complex, but has also applied innovative ways to maximize mall space for energy efficiency.

Across the SM Mall of Asia’s MOA Sky, solar panels have been seamlessly integrated into the walkway that wraps around the property—doubling as overhead covering for mallgoers strolling and enjoying leisurely walks.

By utilizing this space, SM generates enough power to run 1,000 escalators a day or power 1,800 homes for a month.

The solar-powered parasols that adorn SM City Bicutan’s Sky Garden are another creative way to use solar energy. In addition to adding to the ambience of the Sky Garden, the subtle employment of solar-powered parasols serves as practical nighttime lighting for patrons of nearby businesses.

The parasols significantly reduce the demand for electricity use throughout the evening until the mall closes by providing five hours of nighttime lighting for just three hours of daytime charge.

“Our approach to building malls that satisfy our customers and stakeholders go beyond giving them what is expected. We believe it is up to us to be proactive in enriching the mall-going experiences of Filipinos by investing in seamless, sustainable solutions that allow us to preserve natural resources for many years to come,” said Tan.