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Manila Bulletin devider Environment and Sustainability devider SM Cares coastal cleanup: A movement for tomorrow

SM Cares coastal cleanup: A movement for tomorrow

Over 8,500 volunteers collect more than 70,000 kilograms of trash in the first half of 2025

Published Sep 3, 2025 03:42 pm
As the country prepares for the height of the rainy season, SM Cares is taking urgent steps to help protect vulnerable communities by ramping up its coastal cleanup efforts across the Philippines.
From January to June 2025 alone, SM Cares mobilized 8,571 volunteers across multiple SM malls and coastal communities nationwide, successfully collecting 70,887 kilograms of trash from shorelines and waterways. The initiative is part of the company’s continuing commitment to disaster resilience and environmental protection, especially crucial during months when clogged waterways and marine pollution worsen the impact of heavy rainfall and urban flooding.
SM City Lucena volunteers join hands with the community in a coastal cleanup, creating a cleaner shoreline and a stronger, united future
SM City Lucena volunteers join hands with the community in a coastal cleanup, creating a cleaner shoreline and a stronger, united future
With hands ready to serve, employee volunteers from SM Sta. Mesa join the coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay—proving that small acts of care can create waves of change for our planet.
With hands ready to serve, employee volunteers from SM Sta. Mesa join the coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay—proving that small acts of care can create waves of change for our planet.
“This isn't just about picking up trash—it’s about saving homes, safeguarding health, and helping communities become more resilient to the floods and diseases that come with the rainy season,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Cares Program Director for the Environment. “The work we do today has a direct impact on the safety of families tomorrow.”
SM Cares' coastal cleanup activities serve both environmental and humanitarian goals: protecting marine ecosystems while mitigating the risks of flooding in neighboring barangays. Plastic waste and non-biodegradable trash removed from coastlines help prevent waterways from being blocked, reducing the risk of storm surges and waterborne diseases.
Looking ahead, SM Cares is calling on the public to participate in its biggest cleanup yet in celebration of SM Supermalls' 40th Anniversary. On September 20, 2025, SM Cares will lead the International Coastal Cleanup with a nationwide effort targeting 40,000 volunteers across various locations. The main event will take place at SM by the BAY, inviting individuals, families, and organizations to take part in a shared mission to restore our coastal communities.
Join us in creating a lasting impact—because cleaner shores mean safer communities. Learn how you can be part of the movement to protect our oceans by visiting SM Cares’ official pages at https://linktr.ee/smcares.
Driven by purpose, SM City Davao volunteers take action in a coastal cleanup—showing how collective care can protect and preserve our natural world.
Driven by purpose, SM City Davao volunteers take action in a coastal cleanup—showing how collective care can protect and preserve our natural world.
SM City Tanza volunteers lead a coastal cleanup to help protect the community during rainy season—proving that caring for the environment is also caring for each other.
SM City Tanza volunteers lead a coastal cleanup to help protect the community during rainy season—proving that caring for the environment is also caring for each other.
Sustainably SM: Driving Collective Action for a Greener Tomorrow
As a Sustainable Mall, SM Cares champions environmental stewardship through inclusive and future-forward initiatives that promote sustainable living, climate resilience, and resource conservation.
By actively engaging mall-goers, communities, and partner organizations, SM Cares fosters collective action to reduce environmental impact, and build a greener, more resilient future. Through education, innovation, and strong partnerships, SM Cares leads the way in creating sustainable spaces and inspiring everyday environmental responsibility across generations.
Celebrating 40 Super Years of Evolving With Every You, SM Supermalls—one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers—continuously evolving to lead the way in sustainable development by integrating green design, energy efficiency, disaster resilience, and environmental stewardship into its 88 malls in the Philippines, all while creating inclusive spaces that enrich communities, support climate action, and ensure a better, more sustainable future for generations of Filipino shoppers.
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