SM Supermalls Promotes Preparedness, Long-Term Continuity Among MSMEs
SM Supermalls’ Business Continuity Planning Program is central to efforts aimed at fostering a resilient MSME community.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) constitute a significant part of SM Supermalls’ different communities. In fact, close to 70% of SM Supermalls’ tenants are currently MSMEs that operate under unique lessee contracts that acknowledge their specific needs and challenges.
SM Supermalls recognizes the challenges that MSMEs face in their operations, including disruptions brought about by natural and man-made hazards. Despite their vulnerability to such disruptions, MSMEs generate jobs, drive local commerce, and sustain livelihoods.
Understanding the importance of MSMEs and their valuable contributions to communities and the economy, SM Supermalls has made it a priority to help cultivate a resilient MSME sector.
“Resilience is not built overnight, and requires education, commitment, and collaboration across different sectors,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “Knowing this, SM Supermalls continues to invest in long-term resilience not just for its business, but for the broader ecosystem of MSMEs it supports.”
Business Continuity Planning Program
One of SM Supermalls’ resilience initiatives for its MSME tenants is known as the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) program, which was launched in September 2024. A capacity-building initiative, the BCP program enables businesses to develop tailored Business Continuity Plans and implement adaptive measures to reduce the impact of disruptions.
Each tenant is provided with free access to 5GB of remote digital storage that allows them to securely store critical business documents, including BCPs, permits, registrations, and insurance policies. In the event of a disaster, access to these documents is seamless, allowing businesses to process insurance claims and resume operations more efficiently.
SM Supermalls also regularly holds scheduled BCP workshops for MSMEs in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Conducted in centralized SM locations across various regions, these BCP workshops are open to both SM tenants and DTI-assisted MSMEs.
During these workshops, business owners are introduced to the various risks posed by different types of disasters and are guided step-by-step in developing their own BCPs. Participating business owners are given one month to finalize their BCPs, which must be approved by their business management and submitted to DTI.
Since its launch, the BCP program has trained over 1,500 MSMEs. More workshops are scheduled in the coming months.
Public-Private Partnership with DTI, ARISE Philippines
To further scale the impact of the BCP program, SM Supermalls established a public-private partnership with the DTI and ARISE Philippines, a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)-affiliated private sector alliance for disaster resilience.
The collaboration involves DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona and Bureau of Small Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) Director Emma Asusano, alongside SM Supermalls’ Corporate Resilience Department. The goal of this partnership is to ensure that 6,000 MSMEs have robust BCPs by the end of 2027.
As part of the partnership, the SM-DTI Calamity Recovery (CARE) Booth is activated during calamities. These booths, which are found within malls with communities impacted by disasters, serve as an accessible touchpoint for MSMEs needing post-disaster support.
The BCP program and the partnership with DTI and ARISE Philippines highlights SM Supermalls’ efforts to build a resilient MSME community. These efforts reinforce “the fundamental truth that sustainable progress is only possible when communities and businesses are prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow,” according to Steven Tan.
