SM Group takes lead in vaccination efforts

MANILA, Philippines — The SM Group has vaccinated 94 percent of its employees as part of efforts to help reopen the economy.

“Our goal is to support broad vaccination efforts and not just to focus on our own people or those connected with our business. We are here for the good of the community and to support vaccination as a national priority,” said Frederic DyBuncio, SM Investments Corp. president and CEO.

SM earlier ordered over 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for its employees and for donation to the national government.

SM’s vaccination program is a joint effort of all the SM companies, including SM Investments Corp., SM Prime Holdings Inc., SM Retail Inc., BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corp. and portfolio companies such as 2GO Group Inc., Atlas Mining & Development Corp. and Goldilocks Bakeshop.

SM malls also teamed up with Go Negosyo to open shared vaccination sites for around 300 MSMEs with more than 170,000 employees as part of Go Negosyo’s “A Dose of Hope” program.

In addition, over 3.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in 69 malls around the country that have been used as vaccination hubs by various local government units.

As an example, the Pasay City government partnered with SM to open one of the country’s largest vaccination sites at The Galeon at the Mall of Asia which could accommodate over 3,000 individuals daily.

Property company SM Development Corp. likewise conducted COVID-19 vaccination drives in 12 of its properties in Quezon City, Parañaque, Mandaluyong and Pasig, covering more than 4,500 residents and property frontliners.

“We made our assets accessible to all, both to the public and private sectors, and enabled our partners to secure much-needed vaccination. It is our hope that through these concerted efforts, we will be able to get past this crisis faster together,” DyBuncio said.

2GO vessels on dock also served as vaccination venues that prioritized the inoculation of ship crew members. 2GO continues to accelerate its vaccination drive for its employees and has likewise assisted the employees of its contractors in securing vaccination.

Source: PhilStar