The Mall of Asia was recently cited as the Most Disabled Friendly Mall in ceremonies held in Malacañang. This was in line with the prestigious Apolinario Mabini Awards ceremonies, which honors individuals and groups that have done their share for the disabled.
The mall was cited for its facilities such as elevated pedestrian pathways that serve as ramps so cars will slow down, toilet facilities, drinking fountains, public telephones, and signages that are handicap friendly. The Mall of Asia also has golf carts to bring the handicapped and elderly around the mall. It also conducts regular training sessions on how to assists people with disabilities and serve them better for managers, staffs and tenants.
SM has also passed on this awareness to shoppers for them to understand and lend their support to accessibility by giving priority to handicapped access free at all times, and by giving priority to the handicapped in elevators, lifts, ramps through the proper installation of signages. SM Supermarket and Hypermarket have established priority check out lanes for the handicapped and senior citizens. Breastfeeding stations are now available in the mall to give privacy to breastfeeding moms.
During the ceremonies, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Rep. Amelita Vallarosa, and Transportation Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc awarded the paque to SM Supermalls assistant vice president for the North Region Area Bien Mateo and SM regional operations manager Steven Tan.
The mall of Asia is the fourth SM Mall that has received Apolinario Mabini Awards. Other recipients have been SM Megamall, The Podium, and SM City Bicutan.