Accessibility by Design Earns SM Group 23 Industry Distinctions
Through its group-wide drive
to build inclusive, accommodating spaces for Persons with Disabilities, SM was
commended by key organizations focused on disability affairs.
Accessibility sits close to the
center of SM's corporate purpose, and it shows up in the physical details
across the group's malls, offices, and retail spaces. That consistent,
group-wide implementation of accessible design — and the ongoing commitment behind
it — is what recently earned SM Group formal recognition from The Philippine
Foundation For the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Inc. (PFRD) and the National
Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).
Training the People, Not Just Building the Ramps
Through SM Cares, its Corporate
Social Responsibility arm, SM's disability-friendly facilities are backed by
manpower training aligned with industry standards — meaning accessibility isn't
just architectural, it's also about whether staff nationwide actually know how
to support Persons With Disabilities when it counts.
“Every single person entering
and engaging in the spaces built by SM deserves to feel welcomed and
accommodated,” said Engr. Junias M. Eusebio, SM Supermalls Vice President for
Operations and Program Director for Disability Affairs, SM Cares. “Our benchmark
for true inclusivity expressed well is when every guest, visitor, and mallgoer
can freely move around our spaces while still receiving the support they need
when challenges arise.”
23 Citations at the 2026 Apolinario Mabini Awards
For SM Cares, accessibility
isn't an afterthought — it factors directly into property planning, mobility
considerations, and staff training, feeding back into the group's broader
community service work. That sustained effort was recognized this year at the
2026 Apolinario Mabini Awards, where SM's mall, retail, and office properties
collected multiple citations for advancing accessibility and building more
inclusive environments for Persons With Disabilities.
Presented by the PFRD, the
Apolinario Mabini Awards single out organizations and institutions that have
made a real, tangible contribution to the welfare and inclusion of Persons With
Disabilities.
SM Supermalls, as SM's largest
real estate network for retail, took home 12 citations on its own, with SM
Store, SM Commercial Properties Group, and SM Supermarket collectively picking
up ten awards in the Disability Friendly Establishment category.
Among the recipients: SM City
Roxas earned silver, while SM Center Angono, SM City Bacolod North Block
Extension, SM City East Ortigas, SM City Sto. Tomas, SM Store J Mall, SM Store
Puerto Princesa, E-Com Three, and E-Com Five all took home bronze. Several
other SM malls, Stores, and Savemore branches also received special awards for
initiatives ranging from substantial compliance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 to
specific improvements that closed accessibility gaps and expanded customer
access.
Recognized Nationally by the NCDA
Separately, SM Cares was also
recognized by the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) through its
Advocate for Equity Award, honoring the group's sustained leadership and
long-term commitment to advancing disability inclusion nationwide.
The distinction points
specifically to how SM Cares has built accessible, inclusive spaces that let
Persons With Disabilities participate meaningfully in community life — and to
the group's role in opening up mall spaces nationwide as venues for disability-related
events, giving the sector more visibility and more chances to engage with the
public.
“Inclusion is intentional at SM because of our purpose on
sharing social equity and our drive of becoming a truly inclusive Mall for All.
It is woven into how we train our people, create our programs, and design our
spaces. We believe accessibility is about making every person feel welcome,
respected, and able to fully participate in the experiences we create every
day,” said Eusebio.
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