SM CELEBRATES SUSTAINABILITY ON WORLD WATER DAY: SUPPORTING DENR-NCR’S GAWAD TAGA-ILOG AND BEYOND

April 20, 2024 Community Billboard

In time for World Water Day on March 22, SM, a longtime partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – National Capital Region (NCR), celebrated their commitment to clean water at the recent 4th Gawad TagaIlog awards ceremony held at Park Inn by Radisson in SM City North EDSA. The Gawad Taga-Ilog is a search for the Most Improved Estero (waterway) in Metro Manila, and SM has been a consistent supporter of this local government-led project for the past four years. The Gawad Taga-Ilog program recognizes the significant efforts of local governments, particularly barangays, in keeping Metro Manila’s waterways clean and trash-free.

The theme, “Transforming Communities Through the Gawad Taga-Ilog,” emphasizes sustainability – a cornerstone of SM’s philosophy. It focuses on three core concepts: economic growth, environmental enhancement, and social inclusion. This aligns with SM’s environmental initiatives, which include the Adopt-A-River/ Estero Program, a partnership with the DENR and the local governments of Pasay and Paranaque. It focuses on improving water quality, cleaning up solid waste, and implementing sustainable solutions for the Pasay and Parañaque rivers.

As part of a 5- year Memorandum of Agreement, SM works to decongest the river of garbage, improve water flow, and foster community participation through clean-up initiatives, engineering solutions, and educational materials.
Last year, SM championed the International Coastal Cleanup Day, gathering a team of over 17,000 volunteers and
collecting a record-breaking 100,432.50 kg of trash across 15 SM malls in 12 locations nationwide. SM plans to partner with Local Government Units (LGUs), to recycle water, which will be used in watering city landscapes, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. By actively supporting initiatives like Gawad Taga-Ilog
and implementing innovative solutions, SM demonstrates its unwavering commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable future for our waterways and communities.