SM Supermalls was recently recognized by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), the only lake basin management authority in the country, for its active involvement in and compliance with environmental protection and management.

SM Supermalls was acknowledged in the awarding ceremony of the “Dlwa ng Lawa Awards”- an initiative of LLDA Public Disclosure Program for the Laguna de Bay Region, on September 20 in the Sugar Regulatory Administration Office in Quezon City. The awarding of winners was led by Secretary Nereus Acosta, general manager of the LLDA and presidential adviser for environment protection; Dolora Nepomuceno, LLDA assistant GM;and Michael Gison, MMDA Planning Officer V.

Institutions under the LLDA jurisdiction were assessed based on a rating scheme, according to their level of compliance to effluent standards and regulatory requirements with regard to the environmental maintenance of the lake basin. Seven SM malls and Two SM facilities were given the blue rating, which is equivalent to satisfactory performance, while one was given the green rating for its compliance beyond standard.

Blue ratings were bestowed on SM City Fairview, SM Center Muntinlupa, SM City Santa Rosa,SM CityTaytay, SM City Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM Center Pasig,SM Two-Ecom and SMX Convention Center, while the green rating was given to SM City San Lazaro.

The Public Disclosure Program was founded in 2005 as a part of the Laguna de Bay Institutional Strengthening and Community Participation (Licop) Project, which is funded by the World Bank and the Dutch government.

Serving as a tool for pollution control and environmental governance, the program evaluates industrial firms that discharge waste water effluent based on their compliance with a certain set of ecological quality criteria. It was founded in 2006 to control, prevent and reduce pollution in the lake basin.