SM, gov’t, USAID power DOE's energy conserve campaign

SM City Baguio and the youth join the DOE and local governments in making energy efficiency and conservation a shared responsibility. From left to right: Michael Jason N. Pena, SM Baguio Assistant Mall Manager; Rona Vida Be Correa, SM Regional Operations Manager-North 1; Director Amelia M. De Guzman, CESO IV, DOES’s Director for Energy Research Testing and Laboratory Services; Mr, Vittorio Jerico L. Cawis, Project Evaluation Officer, Representative of Baguio City Mayor; Luz Lani M. Delovino, SM Rosales, Asst. Mall Manager, Director Elisa B. Morales, DOE’s Director for Administrative Services

By Jill Galario

BAGUIO CITY -- SM Prime Holdings, Inc., one of the leading and integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, recently joined forces with the Dept. of Energy (DOE), Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and USAID for the "You Have the Power" campaign.
    Supported by SM Supermalls and its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the initiative aims to encourage the public to adopt an energy-efficient lifestyle and instill a sense of shared responsibility for the environment.
    The roadshow kicked off at SM City Baguio last June 23 and engaged with the youth by featuring winning artworks from the Department of Energy's Digital Poster Making Contest, which were created by students from various schools in the country.
    Senior high school students from the University of the Cordilleras joined the program, participating in a learning session on energy efficiency and conservation 101 with a gamified experience of the exhibit booths.
    Sustainability and disaster resilience are at the core of SM Prime's business. In line with this, the company continuously allocates 10 percent of its capital expenses in features in its properties supporting these two advocacies, from rain catchment facilities to renewable energy sources and everything in between.
    The roadshow showcased SM Prime’s innovative green building design across SM Supermalls, which incorporates renewable energy, energy-efficient building management systems, and electric vehicle charging stations.
    Rona Vida B. Correa, Regional Operations Manager of North 1, said, "As a responsible corporate citizen, SM Supermalls is committed to utilizing our “super power” in designing, building and operating malls sustainably. More than 50% of the energy consumed by SM Prime properties nationwide comes from renewable sources, enough to power 260, 000 homes in a single day. We design our malls purposely, with features such as Building Management systems, to enhance energy efficiency on a daily basis. Free electric charging stations are also provided in 27 malls nationwide to encourage the public to use sustainable forms of transportation."
    Fort its part the DOE promoted renewable energy and sustainable transport by featuring solar panels and an electric vehicle display with USAID complementing the campaign with its City of Energia app which provides information on energy efficiency and conservation to the public.
    DOE Director Patrick Aquino, CESO III of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB), said on this pre-recorded message "DOE encourages you to be “masinop” and “wais” on using energy which will prove beneficial for our future and our environment. You Have the Power campaign initiated by the DOE together with the PCO will help by promoting information about our own capabilities when it comes to managing energy."
    On another pre-recorded message, Asst. Secretary Patricia Martin of the Presidential Communications Office added, "The partnership between the Presidential Communications Office and the Department of Energy is one of the many steps we are taking to ensure that we meet the goals we are set out to do. “You have the Power”, with this campaign, we directly involve the people by embracing energy efficiency, we unlock a multitude of benefits from mitigating climate change to promoting economic growth and energy security.
    There’s truly an abundance of things we can accomplish if we do it as a nation in divisible. By promoting sustainable practices and energy efficient measures, we are paving the way for a brighter, cleaner and greener Philippines."
    The roadshow will continue in SM Lanang Premier, bringing the message of energy efficiency and conservation to more communities. SM Prime is also supporting the DOE's campaign by playing energy efficiency and conservation infomercials by the government agency on the public announcement systems in SM malls, further empowering the public in reducing energy consumption.