Davao City — It started with the campaign on ‘Trash to Cash’ now SM is partnering with the government and a private corporation for a bigger advocacy on environmental protection through energy saving campaign dubbed as ‘Kambiyo Bombilsya’.
SM City regional operations manager for Mindanao Debby A. Go said they welcome the partnership of the Department of Energy (DOE), Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. and SM Supermalls considering that their advocacy in all aspect of protecting the environment is continuing.
She said the CFL Exchange Project of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) of DOE fits to SM Cares Program as it is one of the four cores of the company’s environmental programs namely: solid waste management, air quality efficiency, water conservation and energy efficiency.
She said it has to start with them (SM) and now all the lights inside the mall are compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). CFLs use less power and have longer rated life.
The DOE is distributing nationwide 13 million CFLs through its partner power utilities from Luzon to Mindanao. Four million households are to be targetted. The DLPC in Davao is tasked to distribute 200,000 CFLs.
Go said SM City Davao is one of the 20 malls which is an advocate of this energy efficiency project and venue of the CFL distribution as all stakeholders agree that the mall’s wide reach of customers who are responsible and willing to change their lifestyles for a greener and more economical one.
Meanwhile SM Davao also has project with Nokia where the trash bins are stationed inside the mall for disposal of defective batteries and cellular phones. Other activities include the use of green bag and biodegrable plastic bags.
Waterless urinals are also being used even as it maintained a water treatment plant where clean water are used for its cooling system. On the other hand the Waste Market is held every first Saturday of the month and became a regular drop off point for Dabawenyos to discard recyclable materials from newspapers, bottles, plastic bottles, boxes, defective appliances and computers and others as accredited buyers stationed at the SM parking lot the whole day for the activity.
Given these good environmental practices the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) rated SM City Davao as first among the industries in the Davao Region for its best environmental advocacy and campaign. Following SM for the second place, Carmen Corrugated Containers, Stanfilco, DOLE Philippines, Inc. for Waste Water Treatment and Managemen, Air Quality and GHG Management and Electricity and Fuel Efficiency (Energy Efficiency); third place, Holcim Philippines Inc. – Davao Plant for Commitment to Air Quality, Water Protection and Conservation, Responsible Quarry Operations, Focused Waste Management, Harmony with Community Under Tourism, first place went to Shimric BeachFarm Resort for Coastal Conservation, Second place, Chateau Del Mar Resort ‘The Eco-Friendly Hotel’ and third place Felis Resort Complex for Going Green
The best in the community were also recognized and topping the list was LGU of Tagum City for Resource Enhancement Projects, second place, Provincial Governor’s Office – Tourism Services Section (PGO-TSS) re YouTurismo Environmental Education and Coastal Clean-up Project and third place Kasilak Foundation for its Discarded Plastic Strips Weaving. (PIA)