Happy Walk For Down Syndrome Awareness

One in every 800 births; 1,875 cases a year; more than 100,000 affected families—those are the numbers revealed last year by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc. (DSAPI) on the incidence of down syndrome in the country.
According to DSAPI, down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been part of the human condition, universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines. It usually causes varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues.
Over a decade ago, February was dubbed as Down Syndrome Consciousness Month to make more Filipinos aware of the condition. In support, DSAPI and SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs came up with Happy Walk, a day-long program that not only raises much-needed awareness for down syndrome patients, but showcases their talents and triumphs.
In the event, DSAPI president Elmer Lapena and SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs head Engr. Bien Mateo will look back at what they had accomplished in 2014 and give the latest information on the state of down syndrome in the Philippines.
Happy Walk will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Skydome of SM City North Edsa.




Objective
Raise public awareness of down syndrome by organizing a special event for patients and their families

Resource Persons

1. Mr. Elmer Lapena, President of DSAPI
2. Engr. Bien Mateo, Head, SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs

Other Sources
http://dsapi.org/
http://smcares.com.ph/disability
http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/proclamations/proclamation-no-157/

SM Exec Readies Business Students For Climate Risks

Future business leaders need to be ready for the risks associated with a changing climate, according to SM Environment Committee head Liza Silerio, when she addressed the delegates of the 7th Business Management Student's Convention in De La Salle University in Manila.

In her speech, she stressed the importance of sustainable measures by future private sector leaders to safeguard local communities during calamities and cushion the impact of an increase in carbon emissions, population, and demand for basic needs.

As an example of sustainable efforts, she bared the details of SM's sustainability framework, a five level structure that aims to engage different stakeholders, from employees to multinationals. "Each level reaches a wider array of people which holistically provides a foundation of the sustainability management system of the company," she said.

Further, she explained how the SM Group manages to improve its sustainability programs by using a Plan-Do-Check-Act-Report cycle, which plans out and evaluates the events and initiatives of the company within the year.

"For 2013, our intensity power consumption decreased by 11% at 153 kilowatt hours per square meter per year. This is a 16% decrease since the benchmark year of 2010." Silerio said, noting the positive impact of the cycle to the company's energy consumption. Apart from lowering the intensity consumption, SM also started using renewable solar power in China and the Philippines.

The Business Management Student's Convention aimed to spur awareness and commitment to corporate sustainability, environmentalism, and social responsibility by introducing attendees to business approaches, strategies and programs that incorporate sustainability principles.