Building pathways for communities through partnerships
Through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program, SM Prime and SM Foundation work hand in hand to build safe, modern school facilities, helping improve access to quality education and empowering the next generation of learners across the country.
In the remote areas of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, access to quality education is shaped as much by geography as by policy. Public schools in communities with limited industrial activity have long struggled to secure resources, leaving classrooms vulnerable when funding is stretched across competing priorities.
“Forging partnerships has long been a challenge for DepEd Calapan,” said Mark Lester Casapao, Senior Education Program Specialist for Social Mobilization and Networking at DepEd Calapan. “With few major industries in the area, it’s hard to attract big partners.”
The situation reflects a broader disparity in development, where rural areas often lag in access to private-sector support. In response, SM Foundation has positioned partnerships at the center of its education, health, and disaster response programs, working with government agencies, local communities, and private companies to address resource gaps.
According to Casapao, public education funding alone is often insufficient to meet school needs due to various competing priorities.
“Napaka halaga po ng mga partnerships dahil ang collaboration po ang pupuno sa anumang kailangan punan,” he said, citing the role of Adopt-A-School initiatives, parent-teacher associations, barangays, and community groups.
Through the SM School Building Program—implemented with DepEd, SM Prime, and SM Retail—a new building was constructed at Bayanan II Elementary School in Calapan, replacing undersized classrooms that restricted movement and group activities. Casapao said the new facilities enable more active student participation and support teaching methods that were previously difficult to implement.
Beyond infrastructure, the foundation’s education pillar also supports students through its College Scholarship program, which partners with companies such as Mastercard, DigiPlus Foundation, and IBM. The program provides financial support and industry-linked training, particularly in technology-related fields.
Through the Mastercard–SM Foundation partnership, ten outstanding students receive STEM scholarships—preparing them for fields that drive innovation, strengthen the digital economy, and address today’s most pressing challenges. Scholars like Cris Dela Cruz (center) represent a new generation of problem-solvers whose STEM education will help build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready nation.
Cris Dela Cruz, an SM scholar under the Ten Outstanding Students in STEM (TOSS) with Mastercard, said the scholarship allowed him to continue his studies despite financial difficulties.
“I may have been born into poverty, but I was raised by purpose,” Dela Cruz said. He calls the scholarship "a light that broke through" as he pursues a STEM-related course in Isabela, Cagayan Valley.
In healthcare, SMFI’s Wellness Center Program continues to put premium in prevention as a way to reduce long-term treatment costs. One of its partners is the San Juan Medical Center, which works with local government units to strengthen community-based health services.
SJMC medical director, Dr. JosephAcosta, said preventive care should be a core component of charity healthcare.
“Ang real charity hospital, dapat may wellness,” he said. “Gusto naming ma-prevent ang mga sakit para mas kaunti ang gagamutin.”
Through close collaboration with volunteers, like-minded organizations, and local communities, SM Foundation’s Health and Medical Programs are designed to respond directly to community needs. By prioritizing preventive healthcare, the foundation aims to help decongest hospitals, strengthen the capabilities of local health centers, and bring essential medical services closer to families through regular medical missions.
By upgrading health centers at the local level, the program aims to reduce patient congestion in major hospitals. Acosta noted that preventing lifestyle-related diseases could significantly lower government healthcare spending.
“Mas matipid para sa gobyerno kapag nape-prevent ang mga sakit,” he said.
For its medical missions and blood donation drives, the foundation also partners with various partners to amplify its goal of raising healthy and empowered communities.
Through IBM’s partnership with SM Foundation, students gain access to industry-relevant digital and technical skills that go beyond formal schooling, which prepares them for the evolving world of work and equips them to thrive in a technology-driven future.
Hope in every pack
During disasters, the foundation activates Operation Tulong Express (OPTE), a relief initiative that utilizes SM Supermalls as distribution hubs and SM Markets for packing relief goods. The program operates in coordination with the SM business units, Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units.
Ana Datu, SM Supermalls regional operations head for Bulacan and CAMANAVA, who volunteers during OPTE operations, said malls function as community centers, especially during emergencies, “We are a mall for the community. It’s about being there for the people in our areas.”
Together, these efforts point to a growing shift in how social support reaches underserved communities. By strengthening partnerships across sectors, SM Foundation is helping extend education, healthcare, and emergency assistance to areas long constrained by geography and resources.
Through Operation Tulong Express, the collaboration of SM Group business units extend Kalinga Packs to families and communities affected by disasters, bringing immediate relief, essential goods, and a message of care and solidarity in times of need.
