Lakwatserong Irigenyo

SM Foundation (SMFI) partnered anew with UNIQLO and parent company Fast Retailing Co., Ltd to bring social good in various communities in the Bicol region.

The partners upgraded community health centers in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte; the Angas Barangay Health Center in Basud, Camarines Norte, Cararayan Barangay Health Center in Naga City, and the San Isidro Health Center in Baao, Camarines Sur. These Centers were likewise equipped with the necessary health equipment, furniture, and appliances. An Emergency kit consisting of Alcohol, Bandages Scissors, BP with Stethoscope, Burn Ointment, Cervical Collar, Cotton, Disposable Ambu, Elastic Bandages, Eyepad, Flashlight, Folding Knife, Gauze Bandages, Gauze Pad, Gloves Vinyl, Hot Water Bag, Hydrogen Peroxide, Ice bag, Kelly Forcep, Lighter, N95 Masks, Micropore Tape, OXYGEN TANK WITH REGULATORY, Penlight, Plastic Strips, Pocket Mask, Povidene Iodine, Pulse Oximeter, Raincoat, Rope, Shear Scissors, Skin Swab, Sterile Gloves, Thermal blanket, Thermal gun thermometer, Thumb Forcep, and Triangular bandage were provided to each of the Centers, thus making them ready for disasters and emergency.

These upgraded health facilities boast the following improvements: Patients’ Waiting lounge, Reception area, Consultation Room, Pre-natal and Treatment Room, Meeting Room with Pantry, Mobile Play Cabinet for Children, Under -5 Clinic, Breastfeeding Room, and Medicine Storage Cabinets.

Connie Angeles, Executive Director for Health & Medical Programs of SMFI said that health facilities play a significant role in the mitigation of disasters because of their function in treating the injured. She also said,” during these trying times like the pandemic, we believe that health centers are vital for community surveillance and response.”

Angeles further shared that SMFI believes that working alone as a single entity yields lesser benefits than when working together as a team: “There is much more that needs to be done, but with partners like UNIQLO, we at SM Foundation are confident that we will be able to attain our social good goals sooner rather than later. Thank you, UNIQLO, for spreading social good with us!”

The turn-over rites in Barangay Angas, Basud, Camarines Norte was held on September 7, 2022 and was graced by Mayor Adrian Davoco, and Barangay Captain Salvador Bartolome, Jr. The center was blessed by Fr. Noel Domingo of the Parish of Mother Perpetual Help.

It was also attended by SM Senior AVP for South Luzon Engr. Jason Terrenal, SM City Daet Mall Manager Lino Franco Morales and Ms. Cristina Angeles, AVP, Outreach Program of SM Foundation.

Today, SM Foundation and Uniqlo turnedover 2 other renovated health facilities in Brgy Cararayan, Naga City and Brgy San Isidro, Baao, Camarines Sur.

In Naga City, the occasion was led by SM Foundation officials Connie Angeles, Executive Director for Health & Medical Programs, Ms. Cristina Angeles, AVP, Outreach Program of SM Foundation, Engr. Jason Terrenal, SAVP, SM Supermalls, SM Regional Operations Manager Niko Alvarez, SM City Naga Mall Manager Jeannette De Vera and Assistant Mall Manager Vincent Senora.

They were joined by Uniqlo representatives, Georgette B. Jalasco, Vice President for Marketing and Reiny Vergara, Public Relations & Sustainability Head.

Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion together with Vice Mayor Nene De Asis, Councilors Salvador Del Castillo and Omar Buenafe, and Barangay Captain, Rodrigo Agravante Jr. graced the inaugural ceremonies.

In Baao, Mayor Jeffrey Besinio and Punong Barangay Filomena “Medem” Galicia expressed their appreciation to SM Foundation, SM Supermalls and Uniqlo officials during the successful turnover ceremony of their newly upgraded San Isidro Health Center.

SMFI and UNIQLO are set to turnover other upgraded health centers across the country in the coming months under this collaboration. It can be recalled that last year, SMFI and UNIQLO also partnered to renovate seven community health centers (Rodriguez, Rizal, Marikina City, Cauayan Isabela, 2 in Tuguegarao, Bula, Camarines Sur and Tiwi, Albay) which are all now being utilized for basic medical needs and emergency responses.

SMFI, through its Health and Medical Programs, upgrades public health centers in its host communities, complemented by its medical caravans across the country. To date, it has renovated more than 170 health and wellness centers and served almost 1.2 million patients during its medical missions.