Newsletter: Globe, SMDC, Scholars of Sustenance PH unite for Hapag Movement

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

PHOTO 1: Globe signs partnership with SMDC and SOS PH to support the Hapag Movement. In photo (L-R) Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Globe Board Director and CEO of AC Industrials; Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer; Jessica Bianca Sy, SMDC AVP and Project Director; Grace Evangeline Sta. Ana, SMDC Executive Vice President; and Marco James Leyson, SOS PH Director of Global Impact & Operations.

Globe, SM Development Corporation (SMDC), and Scholars of Sustenance Philippines have joined forces for the Hapag Movement to address involuntary hunger that still plagues millions of Filipinos. 

The partnership aims to rescue over 110 tons of surplus food from SMDC developments to provide 450,000 meals to 90,000 families over the next 18 months. More than 40 SMDC mixed-use residential developments in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon will take part in the initiative starting this July.

SMDC employees and residents are encouraged to donate quality surplus food, which Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Philippines, an international food rescue organization, will transform into nourishing meals for the beneficiaries. 

The effort not only addresses hunger but also minimizes food waste, aligning with both organizations' commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

"SMDC’s participation in The Hapag Movement represents a major step forward in our mission to combat involuntary hunger. By harnessing the power of community and corporate collaboration, we hope to make a tangible impact on the lives of those in need,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

“Our goals are ambitious. There’s a lot that needs to be done and many challenges to conquer. But with the help of partners like the SM Group and SOS PH, we could make a real impact and bring positive change in the lives of those in need. We are so grateful to have partners like you through this journey,” said Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Globe Board Director and CEO of AC Industrials. 

The collaboration with Globe for the Hapag Movement builds upon SMDC's existing sustainability initiative, The Good Guys Program, launched in 2020.

SMDC champions sustainability by embedding it as a core philosophy and guiding principle in its business practices. Known as "The Good Guys," SMDC is dedicated to creating sustainable master-planned developments that serve as catalysts for substantive change and progress. Inclusivity is integral to their mission. 

"The Good Guys" also refer to residents, employees, and visitors who inhabit SMDC developments across the country. This holistic approach ensures that every aspect of their operations contributes positively to the environment and society.

"Partnering with Globe to support the Hapag Movement and its mobilization partner, Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), aligns with our goal of addressing waste management issues while engaging our residents. This partnership establishes a system for our residents to rescue surplus food and distribute it to nearby communities, effectively reducing waste and providing food to those in need,” said Jessica Bianca Sy, SMDC AVP - Project Director.

“No one can achieve significant social impact alone. By working together, we can create lasting positive changes in society. Sustainable practices and fostering community engagement are essential for building resilient and thriving communities. People want to help and be part of the solution. Partnerships like the one we have with Globe’s Hapag Movement, and SOS PH create systems that make it easy for people to do the right thing and become good neighbors to one another,” she said. 

She cited how urban house developments face significant waste management challenges, particularly food, due to “high turnover rates and transient populations.” This is why the intervention via SOS PH is a perfect fit. 

“Residential developments could potentially yield a substantial amount of viable surplus food that we can reallocate to families in need. Our partnership with Globe and SMDC gives SOS PH the opportunity to prevent food waste in these communities,” said Arthur Winston Bitagcol, Director of Operations, SOS PH

Data from the Social Weather Stations survey indicates that 14.2% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2024, an increase from 12.6% in the previous quarter. 

While millions continue to go hungry, Philippine households waste about 2.95 million tons of food annually, equivalent to 26 kilograms per capita, according to the UN Environment Programme's 2024 Food Waste Index Report. 

The collaboration among the Hapag Movement, SMDC and SOS PH aims to help address both hunger and food waste by utilizing viable surplus food for a sustainable feeding program. 

The Globe-SMDC led partnership expands upon the recent collaboration between Globe and the SM Group. In 2022 and 2023, SM's loyalty program, SMAC, encouraged shoppers to donate their rewards points to the Hapag Movement, resulting in a combined donation of Php 14.1 million, the largest single contribution that the Hapag Movement has received from a business conglomerate to date.

The alliance highlights the potential for corporate collaboration to create meaningful change. As Globe and SMDC lead the way, they invite other organizations and the public to support the Hapag Movement and similar initiatives, working together towards a future where no Filipino family goes hungry.

The Hapag Movement, initiated by Globe in 2022, has already made significant strides in addressing hunger, providing meals for over 95,000 Filipinos and livelihood training for more than 2,600 beneficiaries. It aims to provide sustainable feeding and livelihood support for 100,000 Filipino families or 500,000 individuals.

Know more about SMDC’s sustainability initiatives via www. smdc.com. Learn more about the mission of SOS PH via www.scholarsofsustenance.org/sosphilippines. 

For more information about The Hapag Movement and how to get involved, email us at globeofgood@globe.com.ph or visit https://www.globe.com.ph/globeofgood. 

[END OF PRESS RELEASE]