Despite struggle in mobility, around 450 persons with disability (PWD) and senior citizens from Mabalacat City and Angeles City have joined the emergency preparedness forum, first to happen in SM City Clark, Friday at the Mall Event Center.
SM Cares Assistant Vice President Danilo Chavez said the forum focused on survival measures tailored for differently abled and elderlies.
“Disaster preparedness should be a regular routine most specially to our seniors and PWDs. We encourage other establishments to join us in this advocacy. In fact, we look forward to doing this in all SM Malls in the Philippines,” AVP SM Cares Danilo Chavez
As guest speakers in the forum are Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Chief Science Research Specialist Dr. Arturo Santos Daag and International Disaster Response Network Operational Medicine Instructor Dr. Ted Esguerra.
“We are happy to host the event for the first time here at SM City Clark. Just in time after the magnitude 6.2 quake that hit us here in Pampanga,” Mall Manager Andrea Madlangbayan said.
Last year, around 900 members of PWD and seniorn citizen sector gathered at SMX Convention in Pasay City.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa SM Cares sa pagimbita sa mga katulad namin na may kapansanan. Malaking tulong po ang training na ito para sa kaligtasan namin tuwing may kalamidad,” said Steve, a hearing-impaired from Mabalacat City.
SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Primeholdings which advocates people and the community, environmental sustainability, disaster resilience and green campaigns. –Contributed Photos by JP Manalang