Initiative empowers women in disaster preparedness

The iconic SM Mall of Asia Globe lights up in purple to celebrate gender equality, together with SM Cares, United Nations Philippines, and the Philippine Commission for Women. —CONTRIBUTED

In recognition of National Women’s Month and Fire Prevention Month, SM Cares launched “Women on Fire,” a celebration of the remarkable leadership, strength, courage, and resilience of women in fire prevention, disaster response, and community safety.

Through collaboration with key government agencies and private organizations, “Women on Fire” serves as a platform for education, awareness, and empowerment, reaching over 25,000 participants across all initiatives.

“Women on Fire” recognizes female firefighters, emergency responders, and community leaders for their role in safety, fire prevention, and disaster preparedness.

A female mall-goer tries the fire fighter’s protective uniform at the Fire Square Roadshow of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

On March 4, SM Cares and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) conducted the 4th SM and BFP Nationwide Simultaneous Fire Drill across SM malls nationwide, with SM Mall of Asia as the main venue. Hundreds of registered participants took part in the Fire Square Roadshow, engaging in fire safety demonstrations and interactive training sessions to strengthen preparedness.

On March 5, SM Cares and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) led the 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration Kickoff at SM Mall of Asia. The event, centered on the theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” aimed to empower women across various sectors, particularly those from marginalized communities. Its activities included gender equality discussions on women’s rights and leadership, a trade fair showcasing products from women-led MSMEs, and free services such as medical check-ups, legal consultations, and livelihood support.

SM Prime vice president Jessica Bianca Sy emphasizes the significance of empowering women in our communities.

Meanwhile, the Women LEAD Forum, cohosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and SM Cares, emphasized the crucial role of women at the barangay and grassroots levels in disaster resilience. The discussion underscored how women-led initiatives strengthen community preparedness and serve as models for national climate and disaster resilience programs.

To reinforce its commitment to creating safe environments, SM Cares held the 3rd Nationwide Safe Spaces Act Orientation on March 4 and March 6, engaging more than 12,000 participants across 86 SM malls nationwide. This initiative educated students, employees, tenants, and security personnel on the importance of maintaining harassment-free spaces in malls and workplaces.