SM Foundation renews partnership with the Department of Agriculture to promote urban gardening • PhilSTAR Life

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Foundation, renewed their memorandum of agreement (MOA) last May 29 at the SM Mall of Asia. The partnership seals SM Supermalls' commitment to making urban gardening available in 21 more SM Malls in the country.

As a staunch advocate of green and sustainable living, SM Supermalls has long championed urban gardening as an essential component of a sustainable lifestyle.

SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Operations Bien Mateo, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, and SM Foundation Executive Director Deborah Sy

In 2015, the SM Foundation introduced the Urban Edible Garden Training as part of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers' Training Program with the objective of enhancing food security and providing alternative livelihood opportunities in urban areas. Since then, SM has remained unwavering in its commitment to fortifying the agricultural industry of the Philippines.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, SM Foundation Executive Director Deborah Sy, and SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Operations Bien Mateo press the screen to plant the seed of partnership between the DA and SM Supermalls’ commitment to making urban gardening available in 21 more SM malls last May 29 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Urban rooftop gardens have been successfully established at SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Mesa, and SM City East Ortigas, serving as beacons of urban gardening excellence. In the years to come, SM aims to further enrich the program by establishing additional gardens and increasing its visibility among mallgoers.

Pasay City Mayor Chief of Staff Peter Eric Pardo, Pasay City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office Chief Teresita Calixto-Robles, Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban, SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Operations Bien Mateo, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, SM Foundation Executive Director Deborah Sy, Mesa ni Misis Founder Juana Yupangco, SM Foundation Assistant Vice President for Outreach Program Cristina Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Carmen Linda Atayde, SM Foundation Senior Assistant Vice President for Education Eleanor Lansang, and SM Investments Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Victor Persius Chan

To close the loop, the Sunday Market, SM's latest initiative launched last March, has helped almost a thousand local and backyard farmers by providing them with high-traffic spaces at more than 30 malls nationwide to display and market their products to weekend shoppers, employees, and tenants.

SM Supermalls' partnership with the DA will empower our fellow countrymen to realize the significance of urban gardening in ensuring food availability and, ultimately, enable them to establish their own agricultural enterprises.

To know more about the locations of the SM Sunday Market, visit the SM Supermalls website.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by SM Supermalls.

TAGS: BrandedUp SM Supermalls SM Malls Environment urban gardening