SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna, Mar 5 (PIA) — SM City San Pablo held on February 29 the Green Retail Agenda dubbed “Empowerment through Sustainability,” the mall’s 2nd GRA initiated by SM Prime Holdings back in 2009.
The forum provides a venue for the business sector to showcase their best environmental practices to encourage business community, schools, NGOs—big or small, to incorporate ‘green practices’ in their daily operations.
Included among the powerhouse speakers were: SM Regional Mall Designs Manager Architect Shiela Romero; Sense and style features Mother Earth Advocate, World of Outbound Corp Director and VYP MSC Institute of Technology Director Rosa Viña Prudente Jocson; Daughter of the Founder of Gawad Kalinga, Human Heart Nature President and An Ernst and Young Awardee Anna Meloto Wilk and the Ecowarrior Lead Convenor, a known environmentalists and leader-Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
About 433 participants attended the GRA 2012, composed of Rotary Club Central, Lions Club San Pablo, Kiwanis Buklod San Pablo, Chambers of Commerce, San Pablo Architects Society, and TanggolKalikasan, Media practitioners, Minola and students from San Pablo Central School, DLSP, LSPU and VYP-MSC Institute of Technology.
Topics includes “Introduction to SM Supermalls Green Design”where SM talks abouthow they incorporated green mall operations through its mall’s architecture and programs on solid waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation and air quality.
Rosa Vina Prudente Jocson discussed “Building the MSC Green School Campus” in the heart of San Gabriel, San Pablo City. VYP-MSC Institute of Technology presented their environmental advocacy and current ecologically sound projects in their campus. Anna Meloto Wilk talked about “Empowering Filipino Farmers through Green Business” with their slogan Pro Poor, Pro Organic and Pro Philippines, the second phase of Gawad Kalinga, a foundation started by his father, Tony Meloto. Gawad Kalinga has been also a partner of SM in helping the community.
Ecowarrior Lead Convenor Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri updated everyone with the state of the Philippine Environment. Former Senator Zubiri gave emphasis on the impact on how we can make our country better, on how we can make a difference if we all start to do our part.
As what SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy once said “Our accountability is our way of sharing our successes. All of these programs are directed toward making SM a catalyst for positive social change in the country.” (Nina Rada-AC.O./PIA-Laguna)