More than a hundred participants in wheelchairs, crutches and accompanied by caregivers, attended the first Emergency Preparedness Forum at the SMX Convention Center.

Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. president Manuel Agcaoili (bottom leftmost) with forum participants and (top from L-R) Mall Operations SVP, SM Cares Program director Engr. Bien C. Mateo; Disaster Risk Reduction Department of Science and Technology undersecretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr.; UNICEF Philippines country representative Lotta Sylwander; Office of Civil Defense assistant secretary Nicanor Faeldon; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council former executive director Alexander Pama and International Disaster Response Network operational medicine instructor Dr. Ted Esguerra.

Hosted by SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, the forum enlightened the audience on the possibility of a potential earthquake in Metro Manila, as well as other disasters and calamities. Participants from different PWD organizations and learning institutions attended the event including young people who are blind, deaf, children with physical or orthopedic impairments, with Down Syndrome, Autism, and those with rare disorders.

“Children and youth with disabilities are at a disadvantage during disasters due to their limitations on mobility. We at SM Cares provide the best assistance not only in our malls. We extend our help by teaching survival measures to those in need,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP for mall operations and SM Cares program director.

International Disaster Response Network operational medicine instructor Dr. Ted Esguerra shared survival measures for those with limited mobility, vision, and hearing.

Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr., undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and officer-in-charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), talked about “The Big One” and the possibility of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila.

Disaster Risk Reduction of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) undersecretary Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. talked about the possibility of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake to hit Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ted Esguerra, operational medicine instructor of the International Disaster Response Network taught specific survival measures for those with limited mobility, vision, and hearing.

The forum ended with an earthquake simulation exercise with Dr. Esguerra, MMDA officials and volunteers from the audience.

To know more about SM Cares, please visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares