SM Foundation rolls out ‘Operation Tulong’
SM Group did not wait for the heavy rains to stop. While communities were still under floodwaters, it was already distributing relief goods—food packs and other essentials—to the victims.
In partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Markets, the SM Foundation rolled out Operation Tulong in Metro Manila, the cities of Olongapo, Tarlac, and as far away as Cebu, and the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, Pangasinan, Cavite, La Union, and Laguna.
As soon as Tropical Storms Crising and Dante and Typhoon Emong had subsided somewhat, staff from SM Foundation, augmented by volunteers, mobilized to bring 18,800 Kalinga Packs to hard-hit communities.
The SM Foundation enlisted the assistance of local government units, relying heavily on barangay officials for the purpose.
According to Cristie Angeles, SM Foundation AVP for Livelihood and Outreach Programs, the collaboration among SM’s business units enabled them to respond at a timely manner.
She said the SM Foundation wouldn’t have been able to reach the calamity victims without the volunteers from SM Supermalls and SM Markets.
“We work together in good times,” Ms. Angeles said. “We ramped up that cooperation during a crisis.”
As of this writing, SM Group is still at it, with more food aid distribution on the pipeline in the coming days.
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