SM Olongapo in 27th Presidential Apolinario Mabini Awards

SM Olongapo together and  21 other SM malls were named by the Apolinario Mabini Awards Committee as the best companies for outstanding contributions to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in ceremonies held at Malacañang recently.

SM malls bagged 22 out of 35 awards in the Disabled-Friendly Establishment category, including a Special Award on its Program on Disability Affairs “Mapagmahal sa may Kapansanan”.

Shopping Center Management Corporation president Annie Garcia represented the malls and was joined by SM’s Committee Chairman on Disability Affairs Engr. Bien Mateo , Regional Operations Manager Rheybie Nipas and Asst. Mall Manager Engr. Junias Eusebio in the said awarding ceremony.

“Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa bawat indibidwal at institusyong pinaparangalan natin sa araw na ito. Mula man sa pampubliko o pribadong sektor; sa larangan man ng medisina, sining, media, o paglilingkod-bayan—di-matatawaran ang pagsusulong ninyo sa kapakanan at karapatan ng mga kababayan nating may kapansanan. Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, at sa lahat ng mga nagsusumikap upang matagumpay na maidaos ang Apolinario Mabini Awards sa taong ito,” president “Noynoy” Aquino said in his speech during the awarding ceremony.

SM offers fully accessible friendly facilities to PWDs pursuant to the objectives of Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices”  and employment practices that upholds the dignity of PWDs.   The mall’s friendly facilities include PWD ramps at the mall main entrance and exit; access ramps from main street to arcaded sidewalk; washrooms and toilets; parking stalls; lowered counter/priority lane; pregnant and elderly, pwd slots inside the cinema; fitting rooms, public payphones /ATMS or Automatic Teller Machines  and directional and information signages within the common areas.

Series of seminars have been conducted for mall tenants, affiliates, mall employees and partner agencies to strengthen the common goal of SM Supermalls- to deliver better service to  Customers with Special Needs or better known as the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Guest speakers from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and SpEd have shared relevant topics on handling customers with special needs, their role in the society and other topics that create an awareness on how one can contribute in helping PWDs in the mall. In his remarks, President Aquino said that the examples shown by the awardees as productive members of  society reminds him that he is not alone in bearing all the responsibilities but he has, in fact, partners in pushing for the country’s development. (PR-SMOL)