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Enhanced shopping experience awaits members of one of the country’s biggest rewards system

SM demonstrated its dedication to customers by continuously improving SMAC, the company’s loyalty program. Committed to providing a smarter, more rewarding shopping experience for customers, SM is focused on customer-centric innovation through SMAC, which will deliver an array of advantages designed to improve convenience, savings, and overall happiness.

SMAC, the country’s largest retail rewards system, has also expanded its client base, doubling it from 5 million in 2020 to over 10 million members now.

SM’s loyalty program has paved the path for smarter buying across the country. Members can use the SMAC app to track their spending, access their points, which are redeemable for cash, and stay up to speed on exclusive discounts and privileges. Customers can then adjust and tweak their expenditures to fit the lifestyle they choose.

“SMAC is more than just points and exclusive offers. We enable our members to shop smarter. With SMAC, they will have access to information that will equip them to make smarter purchases,” shared Kevin Hartigan-Go, Chief Operating Officer, SMAC.

Tracing their history from economic crises, loyalty programs have become a way for companies and the consuming public to strengthen their relationship, going beyond transactions and increasing the value exchange between them.

Smarter retailing and a rewarding lifestyle for SMAC members

Defined as providing customers with tools that allow them to shop faster and smarter, smart retailing has been dominating global retail businesses in the past few years as seen by how customers become more thoughtful in spending their money.

Insights from a loyalty program like SMAC also allow brands to craft a more positive experience for their customers.

“SM takes care of its customers by providing them a tool that enables them to shop smarter and that continuously engages with them. SMAC is a healthy program that its members and partner brands can rely on,” Hartigan-Go further shared.

Launched in 2002, SMAC has offered its loyal members an unparalleled shopping experience by fostering a strong community for more than 20 years. Loyalty goes both ways, and SM’s loyalty program understands this showcased through its strong network of over 4,000 partner stores nationwide.

Now, offering a more comprehensive and rewarding lifestyle for their members is SMAC’s partnerships with other brands including Shell, Mabuhay Miles, Globe Rewards, and PLDT Home Rewards.

As consumer expectations and buying behavior grow, SMAC strives to provide its members with even more possibilities to be rewarded. SMAC has made shopping more rewarding at SM Store, SM Markets, Ace Hardware, SM Appliance Center, Watsons, Toy Kingdom, Pet Express, Uniqlo, The Body Shop, and Sports Central by providing exclusive discounts, prizes, and freebies.

Members receive additional benefits when they reserve their stay at Taal Vista, Pico de Loro, or Pico Sands. Hotels include Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson Hotels.

For more information, please visit  www.sminvestments.com

For inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Fortune recently recognized three SM companies, SM Investments Corporation, BDO Unibank Inc., and China Banking Corporation, to its first Southeast Asia 500 list, which includes 38 Philippine companies.

Fortune stated in a statement that its focus on Southeast Asia comes as the region’s economies develop rapidly and supply chains shift.

The initial rankings comprised corporations from seven Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, and The Philippines.

The list featured SM Investments, BDO, and Chinabank, which contributed USD10.3 billion, USD5.8 billion, and USD1.4 billion in revenue, respectively.

“Having three SM companies included in the inaugural list of Fortune’s Southeast Asia 500 is reflective of how consumers have continued to patronize and support our customer-focused operations.  More importantly, the list underscores Southeast Asia’s increasing importance in the global economy, driven by evolving supply chains and robust economic development across nations like the Philippines. It’s about time to shine the spotlight on Philippine companies and the opportunities in terms of investments and growth,” SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said.

Companies are ranked by total revenues based on their latest available respective fiscal years ended on, or before, December 31, 2023. The ten largest companies on the list reported revenues of USD650 billion. That accounts for more than a third of the revenue for fiscal year 2023 across all Southeast Asia 500 companies which reported total revenues of USD1.8 trillion.

Fortune said that overall, revenues and profits shrank over the past year for the Southeast Asia 500. But those changes, driven by weak energy markets, masked impressive growth stories in multiple industries.

“The Fortune Southeast Asia 500 reflects a dynamic and fast-changing region — one whose core economies are growing notably faster than those of Europe or the U.S. This is partly due to Southeast Asia taking on far greater significance in the global economy, not least because a host of Global 500 multinationals have shifted more of their supply chains to Southeast Asian nations,” says Clay Chandler, Executive Editor, Asia.

In another sign of the dynamism of the region, Fortune’s analysts found there are about 30 female CEOs and chairmen amongst the Southeast Asia 500 companies. In all, there are 16 leaders in their 30s holding the positions of CEO, Managing Director, Executive Chairman or Chairman. In total, the 500 companies employ close to 6 million people.

“We are thrilled to introduce the Southeast Asia 500 to our international readers as we build on the 70-year history of publishing the Fortune 500. With this new list, we turn the spotlight on the impressive growth story of Southeast Asia and the largest companies driving this diverse region and its economies,” said Khoon-Fong Ang, Fortune’s Chief of Operations, Asia.

Companies named to the inaugural Southeast Asia 500 join an elite group of businesses recognized by the Fortune 500 franchise, which includes the original Fortune 500, the Fortune Global 500, the Fortune Europe 500, and the Fortune China 500.

2GO, the country’s largest logistics solutions provider, marks ten years of working with FedEx, one of the world’s top transportation firms, to make international shipping more accessible to Filipinos via 2GO’s wide retail network.

“Our goal is to provide outstanding experiences for our customers by making things easier and more convenient for them,” stated Maribeth Espinosa, FedEx Philippines’ Managing Director. “With the expected expansion of e-commerce in Asia Pacific, increasing entry points for e-tailers, SMEs, and solopreneurs is critical to making their firms more competitive. Our relationship with 2GO shows how FedEx links people and opportunities, and it is one of the milestones we will commemorate this year as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in the Philippines.”

Reliable logistics connects mother and daughter

Mrs. Julie Santos, a 62-year-old mother from Bacolod, needed to send important documents to her daughter, who is working as a nurse, in New York. April required the documents for her work records. Aware of 2GO FedEx services, Julie visited the SM Business Center in Bacolod to send her parcel. “I needed a courier I could trust, one that was secure and easy to find, which is why I chose 2GO,” said Mrs. Santos. “I was even able to include a bracelet her sister made as a lucky charm. Sure enough, within four days, the package arrived safely at my daughter’s apartment.”

Frederic DyBuncio, President and CEO of 2GO Group, Inc., expressed gratitude for the wonderful work with FedEx, stating, “2GO Group values our collaboration with FedEx, which empowers Filipinos to expand their horizons. By bridging the gap for local parcels, for personal or business, beyond borders, we’re not just delivering packages; we’re delivering opportunities.”

FedEx services are available in 895 stores, including SM Business Center, Alfamart, Waltermart, Fax Parcel and Print, and Savemore, expanding the worldwide company’s local presence in the Philippines.

Visit 2GO.com.ph or contact (02) 8528-7000 to learn more about 2GO’s full range of services.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com  

ChildFund Philippines recently discussed its accomplishments and impacts in assisting Filipino children, youth, and local partners, stressing collaborative action as a critical driver in preserving and supporting Filipino children and young.

ChildFund Philippines declared their objective to reach 5 million Filipino children and families by 2026 and every year after that at their event “Connection for Impact,” which drew partners and stakeholders. This will help ChildFund International meet its global goal of reaching 100 million children and families by 2030.

The event also included a panel discussion with representatives from The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, UNICEF, Psychosocial Support, and the Children’s Rights Resource Center. These organizations stressed the importance of collaboration across sectors in ensuring a sustainable future for Filipino children and youth.

“We aim to scale up our efforts to address the evolving challenges faced by Filipino children and youth,” said Anand Vishwakarma, Country Director of ChildFund Philippines. “Together with our partners, we are driven by the urgent need to create broader and more sustainable impacts through collaborative efforts.”

In 2023, the organization reached 21 provinces, 35 cities and municipalities, 365 barangays, and in partnership with 11 local partners, supporting a total of 54 million children, youth, and adults.

ChildFund supports children and youth through various life stages, focusing on education, health, skilling and livelihoods, child protection and participation, and climate action. “From birth to age five, children should be healthy and secure. From six to their teenage years, they need proper education to build personal agency. By young adulthood, they should have developed skills for employment,” said Dong Waña, Program and Sponsorship Director of ChildFund Philippines.

ChildFund supported 610 learners with disabilities through Project Advancement of Children’s Inclusive Education through Virtual Engagement (ACHIEVE) and developed an e-learning platform that improved children’s participation. They also established neighborhood play programs in remote communities with limited access to early childhood care and development. Additionally, the youth are supported in making informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health through inclusive services and information. Under its new Job Opportunity Building for Youth (JOB for Youth) program, the organization has so far provided industry and technopreneurship training to 396 youths..

In terms of disaster preparedness, the Children and Youth-led Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CYDRM) Program aims to engage children and youth in disaster risk management and climate action initiatives. ChildFund also continuously promotes transparency in disaster relief through Project Relief Allocation Management, Distribution and Monitoring (RAMDAM), integrating technology-based interventions and climate-adaptive innovations.

The organization launched #FunOfAKind campaign that encourages people to volunteer their “time, talent, and treasure” to ChildFund’s programs, supporting children and youth. This will allow the organization to:

• Improve culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate learning experiences  for indigenous children in BARMM through an inclusive education program called Bajau Ongka-kumpit for Access and Transition to School (BOAT School),
• Enhance social and emotional learning for children and promote safe learning environments,
• Withdraw more children from the worst form of child labor,
• Engage more youth in leading their own Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) initiatives; and,
• Rally for wide adoption of the RAMDAM disaster response app by national agencies.

“The challenges faced by Filipino children are complex,” said Vishwakarma. “By working together – government, businesses, non-government organizations, and concerned citizens – we can achieve far better outcomes for them.”

For additional information on how to become engaged, go to https://childfund.org.ph/get-involved.

By introducing cutting-edge ICT services specifically designed for the city’s government and hotel industries, Eastern Communications improves Baguio’s digital landscape. The organization supports Baguio’s efforts to increase economic and tourism growth in order to aid in the post-pandemic recovery of the area.

The economy of the Cordillera is greatly boosted by Baguio City, which is expected to achieve its 2024 collection target of PHP2.74 billion. Baguio City Assistant Treasurer Fernando Ragma announced a 12% increase in collections compared to 2023, with PHP1.205 billion collected from January 1 to April 30. This is 45% of this goal already collected in the first four months.

To sustain this momentum, Eastern Communications is committed to equipping more businesses with digital solutions to help them thrive.

The telecommunications provider will enhance Baguio’s digital landscape with innovative ICT services tailored to the city’s hospitality and government sectors. This initiative aligns with Baguio’s goal of boosting economic and tourism growth, aiming to support the region’s post-pandemic resurgence.

Strengthening Baguio’s Government Sector

Reliable connectivity is pivotal for Baguio’s economic development. It enables efficient communication, access to global markets, and fostering innovation. Both businesses and public services rely on seamless internet access for transactions, research, and networking. Additionally, robust connectivity supports remote work, enhances education, and drives technological advancement, fueling economic growth and competitiveness.

The partnership between Baguio’s local government and Eastern Communications represents a significant step towards enhanced connectivity and progress. Eastern’s comprehensive internet solutions support Baguio’s vision for a digitally inclusive future, providing the robust infrastructure necessary for economic vitality and community empowerment.

“Eastern’s connectivity services offer a transformative opportunity for Baguio City’s development. By providing free fiber connectivity to barangays, Eastern enables seamless communication infrastructure essential for urban planning and public services. Integrating IoT boxes for sensors and CCTV enhances security and resource management, fostering a smarter, safer cityscape,” said City Government of Baguio Officer in Charge – Management in Information and Technology Division (MITD) Francis Camarao.

Boosting Hospitality and Tourism in the Summer Capital

Eastern Communications is also playing a crucial role in the digitalization of Baguio’s hospitality and tourism sectors. The company has recently partnered with several prime hotels in Baguio, including Soto Grande Hotel, Hotel Cosmopolitan, and Newtown Hotel, to provide top-tier ICT solutions.

Clients have expressed satisfaction with Eastern’s personalized services and ICT solutions, noting that digital adoption is essential for businesses to thrive in the modern era.

Soto Grande Hotel

During the official contract signing event with the newly opened Soto Grande hotel, Resident Manager Marco Fetizanan offered a positive outlook on their partnership with Eastern Communications, noting that it “will significantly enhance our digital processes.”

“Their reliable connectivity ensures our guests enjoy a seamless online experience throughout their stay. Eastern has proven to be our partner of choice, and we believe that adopting digital solutions is crucial for businesses to thrive in 2024 and beyond.”

Hotel Cosmopolitan

Hotel Cosmopolitan, located in the heart of Baguio, also recognizes the importance of digital adoption in accommodating the city’s increasing number of tourists. The hotel seeks to meet this need as it officially sealed the deal for Eastern Communications to be its Fiber1 internet service provider.

Glen Flores, owner of Hotel Cosmopolitan, expressed his confidence in the telco’s service, “Eastern Communications is not only fast and effective but also offers friendly and impeccable customer service.”

Newtown Hotel

Eastern also partnered with the popular Newtown Plaza Hotel, located along Claro M. Recto Street, to offer the business an Internet Direct Service (IDS) leased line.

During the official contract signing, Newtown’s Hotel Manager, Josh Ancheta, highlighted the main reasons for choosing the telco as their dedicated internet service provider.

“Our partnership with Eastern was driven by our need for a provider that offers reliable after-sales support and quick response to our concerns. Apart from this, they also helped us exceed our guests’ expectations. We recommend Eastern as the go-to provider for the tourism and hospitality sector due to their personalized solutions and dependable service.”

Eastern Communications wants to be a Partner in Progress for the city, creating a digitally connected and thriving community through its expanding ICT and connectivity relationships in Baguio. This guarantees that improved services and possibilities are available to both businesses and tourists.

• ‘25 Years Young’ celebrates the 25th anniversary of the foundation
• A global call for contributions will award impactful and innovative youth projects

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, is launching a global campaign to commemorate both this significant milestone and the next generation of young leaders dedicated to creating a fairer, low-carbon society.

‘25 Years Young’: A Celebration of Youth and 25 Years of Action

The Schneider Electric Foundation, founded in 1999 by the Fondation de France, supports changemakers who are advancing sustainable development, promoting social inclusion, and empowering communities around the world. Throughout 2024, the foundation will honor the world’s young by raising awareness of their social and environmental impact and rallying corporate personnel. The highlight of these celebrations is the introduction of a global call for contributions with the foundation’s social entrepreneurship partner, Ashoka.

Since its inception, the Schneider Electric Foundation has been a pioneer in supporting constructive projects to address growing social and environmental concerns, with many solutions spearheaded by young people from throughout the world. The foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary by recognizing their efforts to make a difference in the fight for a more equitable energy transition.

‘Youth Innovation For A Sustainable Future’: A Global Call for Contributions

The call for contributions titled ‘Youth Innovation For A Sustainable Future’ with Ashoka’s program Changemaker Companies aims to select 25 of the most impactful and innovative youth projects across all five continents (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East). This global call for contributions focuses on professional engagement and a fair transition, and a 50,000-euro prize will be awarded to the winning project during the COP29 climate summit in Bakou, Azerbaïdjan. Those projects selected will also benefit from increased visibility across the social media channels of both Schneider Electric’s Foundation and Ashoka’s network of countries. In the Philippines, the call for contributions will be launched on June 17, 2024. Entries can be submitted through the program’s website at https://volunteerin.se.com/#/youth-innovation-for-sustainable-future.

“Schneider Electric Foundation has been dedicated to driving sustainable development for the last 25 years by promoting social inclusion and empowering the youth to champion positive change,” said Norman Roland Ocana III, Head of Government Affairs and Sustainability of Schneider Electric Philippines. “We commemorate this momentous milestone, with our strengthened commitment to support NGOs and Foundations who work with the next generation on various initiatives focused on just transition, awareness and inclusion, professional training in energy management, entrepreneurship and gender.”

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next-generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights.

Since 1993, SM, through its social good arm, the SM Foundation, has championed education by granting college scholarships to worthy students from economically vulnerable neighborhoods, demonstrating how education and hard work can lead to a life free of poverty.

Henry Sy, the creator of SM, believed that education was the best kind of resistance against poverty. For him, one of the most powerful ways to make a difference in a community is to assist a student in obtaining a college degree; the multiplier effect continues when that graduate eventually becomes capable of aiding his family, the company for which he will work, and society as a whole.

Aside from assisting approximately 4,200 scholar beneficiaries annually, the scholarship program is also working to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by improving youth education, building school facilities, and providing classrooms around the country.

For Fritz Mendez, this journey is anything but straightforward. Living in a vulnerable community, survival was the only thing he could think of. 

His mother was forced to leave her job as a domestic helper due to the war in Lebanon. This and several other familial problems forced him to stop attending school, feeling that escaping poverty was an impossible dream. 

“When you live in our community, it seems expected of you not to go to college or have a degree because poverty is very rampant. I, however, had a dream inside me to show to my community and family that I can have a college degree,” he said. “Having an opportunity to fulfill that dream through the SM Scholarship is indeed a blessing I prayed for. I took all the courage to apply and the SM Foundation gave me a shot.”

Achieving the once-impossible dream

Starting college at the age of 19, and being older than his peers didn’t stop Fritz from developing his skills and making the most of the opportunity given to him. 

The supportive environment of the scholarship program and his involvement in church activities helped him turn his negative experiences into positive actions. He discovered his passion for writing and performing, his outgoing nature, and his leadership skills, which were honed through various church and school activities. 

Fritz also developed practical skills like budgeting and time management, crucial for his survival and success in college and future career. These experiences boosted his confidence and expanded his horizons.

“The scholarship unleashed a new side of me. From merely thinking about survival, I developed a sense of responsibility, discipline, and an appreciation for the value of labor and money. This growth was particularly evident during my participation in the SM Scholarship’s summer job program, where I learned to budget my earnings effectively. I was able to provide for our household needs while still saving enough for my allowance in the upcoming semester.”

Living the dream

After earning his Accounting Technology degree in 2014, he landed his first and only job at BDO Unibank. 

Climbing the corporate ladder, he is now a senior teller while also serving as the Regional Director of the BDO Employees Association for the Visayas region. While managing key accounts in his area, he uplifts his colleagues, leads effectively, and proposes innovative welfare policies for his fellow employees.

“The SM Group has taught me that family is everything. As an SM scholar, their encouragement and support showed me the true meaning of family. Now, working at BDO Unibank, I get to experience and demonstrate how to nurture my family,” he said.  

Fritz is now able to provide for his family’s basic requirements and maintain a healthy living environment, particularly for his mother, who encouraged his desire of a better life.

“Beyond this, the SM Scholarship gave hope to me, a high school student who could have accepted his fate. The SM Scholarship not only made me the only degree holder in a broken family but also provided an opportunity for me to envision a brighter, more promising future. It highlighted the potential for students like me to begin anew and forge our own paths toward success.”

The ‘Factory Sustainable Solutions’ solution from Tetra Pak is a new factory-wide strategy for optimizing water, energy, and cleaning-in-place (CIP).

The ‘Factory Sustainable Solutions’ business is a recent addition to Tetra Pak’s wider sustainability offering. It provides food and beverage (F&B) producers with a customized combination of cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading plant integration capabilities. In order to assist clients in achieving their sustainability goals and cutting expenses associated with operations, it aims to assist food and beverage businesses in optimizing their use of energy and resources.

Food and beverage companies, who have historically relied on fossil fuels and energy-intensive procedures, are facing mounting pressure to maximize resources and boost energy production from renewable sources. This occurs at a time when operating costs are going up because of increased raw material costs, new CO2 levies, and water waste fines. It will be crucial to find answers to these problems, as companies seek to their manufacturing and supply chains for assistance in cutting costs.

Complementing its resource-efficient equipment and services portfolio, Tetra Pak’s ‘Factory Sustainable Solutions’ embodies a systematic, factory-wide approach. Solutions can be integrated at any stage to recover and reduce the consumption of resources, such as energy, water, and chemicals. Optimized resource consumption reduces long-term operational costs and related greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting compliance against ever-tightening sustainability standards.

The Tetra Pak Factory Sustainable Solutions team will support customers by finding the right technologies and integration solutions for their needs, advising them on the best practice set-up for their line or facility. This results in a tailored pipes and installation diagram that optimizes water, energy, and CIP according to the specific needs of the customer’s operations.

The ‘Factory Sustainable Solutions’ offering boasts state-of-the-art technologies, such as:

• Nanofiltration, developed by Tetra Pak, reclaims caustic cleaning liquid used for CIP. This technology allows for the recovery of clean chemicals and water for future reuse, enabling up to 90% recovery of the total spent liquid.
• Reverse Osmosis, developed by Tetra Pak, uses proprietary membrane filtration technology to improve resource efficiency across multiple applications, including milk separation and water reuse.

Tetra Pak is also collaborating with innovative technology partners to offer additional solutions, including:

• HighLift™ heat pump technology, in collaboration with Olvondo Technology A/S, can be integrated into operations to facilitate the reuse of waste heat to produce steam across plant equipment, including the Tetra Pak Direct UHT unit, at pressures up to 10 bar. 
• High-temperature heat pumps, in collaboration with Johnson Controls, which up-cycles processed waste heat to use elsewhere in the factory.
• Solar thermal collectors, in collaboration with Absolicon, utilize the sun as an unlimited source of clean and renewable energy to power hot water and steam delivery – at temperatures above 150°C – making it suitable for UHT applications.

Stefano Vittor, CEO at Olvondo Technology A/S, says, “By incorporating our HighLift heat pump technology into its Factory Sustainable Solutions business, Tetra Pak is offering an impactful solution to reduce carbon emissions across the food and beverage industry. We’re delighted to be part of this collaboration and play a role in the change Tetra Pak is driving.”

Fredrik Norrbom, Director, Sweden at Johnson Controls System and Service AB, added, “Approximately two-thirds of industrial energy use is driven by heat demand, derived largely from fossil fuels. Heat pumps are vital for increasing energy efficiency and delivering net zero heating when combined with renewable electricity. We are proud to collaborate with Tetra Pak on smart building solutions to help customers achieve sustainability targets while helping the industry make critical progress on emissions reduction.” 

Nicole Uvenbeck, Director of Factory Sustainable Solutions and OEM Components at Tetra Pak, says, “This launch is an incredibly exciting and significant milestone for us at Tetra Pak – especially our team who have been working hard to push the boundaries of the impact and value such an approach can bring for our customers.

To date, we have mainly focused on machine and line optimization, and we have realized the overwhelming benefit of replicating this at a factory level, providing a more holistic optimization approach. Factory Sustainable Solutions is an evolution of our expertise, spanning water, energy, and CIP recovery. This will redefine how we support our customers in achieving their sustainability ambitions while reducing operational costs.”

Fiona Liebehenz, Vice President of Key Components, Plant Solutions and Channel Management at Tetra Pak, says, “I’m extremely proud of the team. Our customers are under more pressure than ever to operate as efficiently as possible regarding resource usage. This is, for many, an existential challenge to secure the future of their operations. Through working with them and understanding their individual needs and objectives, we’re providing them  fit-for-purpose equipment enriched with our holistic food & beverages application knowledge to address that challenge, delivering tangible improvements in a financially advantageous way.”

Tetra Pak’s Factory Sustainable Solutions expertise and guidance are available worldwide as the firm begins today. Tetra Pak wants to keep growing and improving its product line in order to meet the constantly changing needs of its clients in every market.

More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com.  

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  @tetrapak 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tetra-pak/

Given the difficult lessons learned from the most recent pandemic, investing in healthcare has never been more crucial.

During the peak of COVID-19, one of these lessons exposed the fragility of health institutions collapsing under the weight of enormous medical demands. The need for the public and private sectors to step up was evident, but the need to plan forward rather than just react to potential health crises is even more pressing.

This highlights the significance of accessibility and the efforts made by the private sector to narrow the socioeconomic divide in healthcare. Better community access to high-quality primary healthcare in collaboration with national and local governments is what this implies for SM and its foundations.

Mission NOT impossible

Medical missions allow access, especially of remote or economically disadvantaged communities, to medical care, education and support.  SM Foundation’s (SMFI) medical missions provide free consultations, basic laboratory tests, dental check-ups and proper dosage of appropriate medicine. SM Foundation reached an important milestone by conducting more than 1,600 medical missions, benefiting nearly 1.3 million patients year-to-date.

“Patients who once endured long queues at crowded healthcare facilities now find relief as we bring healthcare services to remote barangays or provide them conveniently at our malls and properties,” Connie Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs said.

And more than just a structure

While health facilities offer a venue for the conduct of medical services, fixing it up through thoughtful and meaningful design could do more for the community than just provide space. Rural health centers are considered as lifelines, offering a comprehensive range of health services at a minimal cost or even free to the most vulnerable.

“These opportunities to rebuild health centers do more for human well-being. The refurbishment of public healthcare facilities not only enhance their capabilities by way of improvements and new equipment but also make these facilities more responsive and conducive to the health needs and recovery of those they serve,” Ms. Angeles said.

Furthermore, the renovation allows public health centers to meet PhilHealth Accreditation standards, resulting in an increase in PhilHealth utilization and helping decongest city hospitals and minimizing the spread of communicable diseases.

Through these accredited health centers, patients could avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits such as primary care, maternity care and pharmacy needs at the barangay level. These efforts also result in increased capitalization for local governments.   

Many sectors also benefit from these renovations including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, terminally ill patients and women and children to name a few.

SM Foundation’s 200th rural health center in Laguna is a classic example. “Marami kaming programa na hindi namin malagyan ng lugar kasi kulang ang space kaya’t naghahagilap kami kung saan ito ipu-pwesto,” said Dr. Elmira Montesa who leads the Santa Cruz Rural Health Unit (SCRHU). [We have many programs that we can’t accommodate because there is not enough space and we are scrambling for places for these.]

Following the Department of Health’s (DOH) guidelines, SM Foundation elevated the

SCRHU. The rehabilitation transformed the center into a welcoming space, featuring comfortable waiting areas, a reception area for health workers and designated facilities for breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It has a mobile play cabinet for children coping with illnesses. SM also included a rainwater catchment system to the renovated facility to contribute to water conservation.

In 2023, SM Foundation breathed new life into UP-PGH’s post-COVID & PulmoCare hub.

Prior to the rehabilitation, UP-PGH Division of Pulmonary Medicine chief Dr. Lenora Fernandez recalled that the facility struggled to expand its services to meet the growing needs of the community.

“PGH does have many donors but they have so many competing priorities, too. Those patients who continued to suffer from debilitating shortness of breath in silence still lacked essential services such as pulmonary rehabilitation equipment,” Dr. Fernandez said.

The newly refurbished facility now has a new lobby to receive patients and spacious rooms with dedicated areas for rehabilitation, ultrasound, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and virtual consultation. Dr. Fernandez expressed optimism about the future of the hub and sees the number of patients served growing every year.

In Brgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa, a community birthing facility’ serving thousands of residents and indigenous people, had to halt operations in 2018 as it was unable to meet government health requirements.

“Kahit ilang kilometro ang layo nito sa mga kapwa ko katutubo, ito ang pinakamalapit na birthing facility dito sa aming lugar. Kaya malapit ang loob ng komunidad sa facility, lalo na ng mga kapwa ko katutubo. Noong kami ay nahinto, may mga pagkakataon na may nanganganak na sa loob ng sasakyan,” midwife Narcisa Jagmis, a member of the Tagbanua tribe, and who leads the birthing facility said.

[Even though it is several kilometers away from my fellow natives, this is the closest birthing facility here in our area. When we were stopped, there were times when someone was giving birth inside the car.]

SM Foundation supported the community by revamping the birthing facility in 2023, enabling it to obtain the required licenses to resume operations. Dedicated rooms and spaces for storage, scrub-up, breastfeeding, consultations, birthing, clean-up and sterilization, as well as labor and recovery wards were added. It also introduced a rainwater harvesting system and installed energy-efficient lighting fixtures and appliances.

Another SM affiliate, BDO Foundation, also achieved a major milestone as it rehabilitated its 160th rural health unit (RHU) in 2023. This involved renovating exteriors, layout and interior design, lobbies and waiting areas, offices, birthing clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms and pharmacies as well as installing breastfeeding stations for nursing mothers, play areas for children, and waiting lounges for senior citizens.

BDO Foundation also installed new signages, furniture, and fixtures to help health workers accommodate more patients in environments conducive to good health and well-being. The improvement of facilities empowers doctors, nurses, and midwives to provide quality primary healthcare services more often and more efficiently to their constituents. The initiative also benefits mothers, infants and children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and indigenous peoples living in remote areas.

Officers from BDO Unibank and BDO Network Bank also suggested health centers that required support. The DOH, local government representatives, and health authorities supported the project by offering advice on RHU renovations. The BDO Foundation assisted health centers in obtaining accreditation from PhilHealth and favorable DOH assessment ratings in healthcare delivery through the rehabilitation program. One of the objectives of the Philippine Health Agenda is to enhance the healthcare delivery system.

A total of 364 health centers and medical facilities have been constructed or renovated by the combined efforts of the SM Foundation and BDO Foundation.

By continuously granting fair access to high-quality basic services, the organization hopes to effectively contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) and pave the way for a brighter and healthier future.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

For inquiries, please contact: [email protected]