In disaster-prone Philippines, ranked consistently high in the World Risk Index, SM Supermalls leads private sector resilience through its rollout of the Incident Command System (ICS). This standardized emergency response framework ensures swift, coordinated action when disasters strike.
SM regularly implements emergency drills across its mall network and participates in nationwide preparedness efforts, including annual fire and earthquake drills with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and quarterly Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Seventy-nine SM Supermalls have achieved Business Continuity Management Systems certification, setting industry benchmarks. The company operates a dedicated resilience center that coordinates communications during large-scale disruptions.
SM’s collaborative approach was showcased during the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Manila. SM City Clark hosted an ICS demonstration for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Resilience and foreign delegates, featuring unified response protocols involving mall management, Clark and Angeles municipalities, BFP, OCD Region 3, and NDRRMC.
In preparation, SM partnered with ARISE Philippines to conduct an ICS workshop with OCD, training heads of operations, human resources, security, and IT from SM City Clark and nearby locators like Park Inn Hotel. BFP and Philippine Army experts facilitated the hands-on training.
Following Clark’s success, SM is expanding ICS workshops nationwide, beginning with SM Mall of Asia and extending to regional malls.
“By investing in frameworks like the ICS, SM Supermalls demonstrates that resilience is not a reactive measure but an ongoing commitment,” said SM Supermalls Vice President Engr. Liza Silerio. “In a landscape defined by environmental vulnerability, this commitment provides not only peace of mind but a tangible sense of preparedness for employees, tenants, and the public at large.”
Through sustained partnerships with government and civil society, SM cultivates a culture of resilience that empowers communities and promotes a disaster-ready Philippines.
