THE SM Group has so far donated P10 million to victims of Typhoon Sendong in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

This consists of P3 million in cash which SM Prime Group representatives turned over to the city government care of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Ernano as well as P7 million in goods distributed by SM Foundation, SM Prime and the SM Supermarket Group.

Savemore started distributing relief bags of ‘ready to eat’ food in the West City Central School immediately after rescue and relief operations on Dec. 19, followed by SM Prime in the Kauswagan Barangay Hall on Dec. 20.

SM Foundation also distributed bags to 11,000 families from Dec. 21 to 23. Closely coordinating with the DSWD and various government agencies, the Group reached out to families in Barangays Bonbon, Blulua, Tibasak, Balulang, Barra, Carmen, Consolacion, and Canitoan as well as the Kauswagan Community, Macasandig Elementary School and Barangay Hall, and Sitio Tambo.

SM Prime distributed goods to 1,000 families at the City Central School on Dec. 24; while Savemore staff spent Christmas Dayat the most devastated areas, including Isla de Oro and Isla Delta. 

So far, SM has reached out to 17,000 families in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. It hopes to extend more help with SM Prime allocating an additional 2,000 bags, as well as mats and blankets for Iligan; while proceeds from its recent ‘Operation Tulong’ donation campaign at all SM Supermalls from Dec. 21 to 30 will be earmarked for more Sendong victims.