Be Bright

SM highlights inclusion in emergency and disaster preparedness for PWDs, elderly

SM Cares continued its second leg of the Emergency Preparedness Forum at the SM Mall of Asia to help prepare and inform persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens on what to do in emergencies.

Engr. Bien Mateo, senior vice president for mall operations and program director of SM Cares Disability Affairs, emphasized the importance of inclusion in the annual forum to equip vulnerable sectors with the ability to save themselves and the people they love.

“In preparing for emergencies and calamities, SM Cares believes that no one should be left behind,” he said. “That is why we continue organizing this yearly Emergency Preparedness Forum. Our goal is to empower PWDs and senior citizens with the essential survival skills.”

During the forum, attendees were encouraged to participate in several emergency scenarios led by Gerard Natividad, an instructor on disaster management and rescue-survival expert.

Consultations with the community were also held to enhance inclusivity practices in an earthquake, including the duck, cover, and hold protocol.

For wheelchair-bound individuals, it is better to lock, cover, and hold. This means locking the wheelchair brakes, covering the head with a bag or hand, then holding it for stability until the shaking stops. The visually-impaired community was also advised to hold their guide canes and stick to the walls since all of them lead to windows and doors.

Natividad echoed the need for disaster risk reduction practices to be inclusive,“It should not be just a third party thinking for them. Let’s ask what works or consult what is the most effective way for them.”

Ramon Apilado, a member of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, (TWH) a non-profit organization that uplifts the lives of PWDs, sees the importance of a consultative approach in emergency preparedness.

“Mas maganda talaga na may consultations,” he said. “‘Di naman iisa ang disability. Whether you’re blind, deaf, or you’re on a wheelchair, dapat lahat kasali para alam ang gagawin.

Committed to serving the community

There are at least 1.44 million PWDs in the country, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). SM continues to promote a disability-inclusive environment through its programs, especially across its malls. With initiatives like annual sensitivity training, Angels Walk for autism awareness, and other special celebrations, SM has become one of the most PWD-friendly establishments in the Philippines.

According to Ella Onnagan, president of the Valenzuela Persons with Disabilities Federation, inclusion encourages their members to be more active in events such as this.

“Bukod sa invitation na binibigay po nila sa amin, meron po silang proper at designated places for our community,” she said. “Ang SM, nagbibigay sila ng kasiyahan sa mga PWDs at seniors. ‘Yung inclusion, nararamdaman namin na welcome kami sa SM.”

Subsequent locations include SM City Tuguegarao, SM City San Pablo, SM Center Lemery, SM City Consolacion, SM Center Ormoc, SM Lanang Premier, and SM City Bacolod.

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Chris Layugan