The public transport sector is one of the hardest hit by the economic crisis due to the pandemic. This sector’s operations have been put into a halt for several months since March 2020. As the government eased restrictions gradually even for public transport, some are still left behind.
SM Foundation, Inc. with SM Supermalls and SM Markets team up to extend assistance thru Kalinga Packs to displaced drivers in the country. These Kalinga Packs include 5 kilos of rice and groceries to aid the daily needs of drivers and their family. SM Supermalls in Rizal, Marikina and Pasig reach out to selected local public transport associations servicing the communities surrounding each mall through the Operation Tulong Express.
SM City East Ortigas Mall Manager Tyrone Tan turns over Kalinga Packs to Kagawad Girlie Cruz for the residents of Morales Compound of Bgy. Sta Lucia, Pasig City |
For SM City Taytay, Golden City TODA, SBM TODA, SMTT Blue Cab drivers receives 250 Kalinga packs handed over by SM Regional Operations Manager, Central 3, Mr. Cid Victoria and SM City Taytay Asst. Mall Manager Paolo Gunao. 144 drivers of SM East Ortigas TODA, Cubaro Jeepney Association and St. Joseph TODA in Cainta receive Kalinga Packs from SM City East Ortigas headed by Mall Manager Tyrone Tan. SM Center Angono with its Assistant Mall Manager Aimee Ramirez and Building Admin Manager Vennice Atun turns over 425 Kalinga Packs to drivers and operators of Biyaheng Turismo Transport Cooperative, ACACJODAI, ANG UNOTODA, COTODA and BITODA.
On the other side of the East, SM City Marikina with Mall Manager Francis Cruz turns over 280 Kalinga Packs to members of Kalumpang TODA tricycle riders and jeepney drivers of Antipolo – Crossing Transport Service. SM City San Mateo with Assistant Mall Manager Sean Arroyo distributes 487 packs to jeepney drivers of MSMMJODAI, tricycle drivers of ATODA and UV Operators and drivers of SILATAI.
SM Cherry Antipolo Mall Manager Joey Tanyag and Building Admin Officer hands over Kalinga Packs to MMTSOCTODAI president Samson Villanueva
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250 Kalinga Packs are received by tricycle drivers MMTSOCTODA from SM Cherry Antipolo headed by Mall Manager Joey Tanyag. SM City Masinag with Mall OIC Raymond Bonifacio and Assistant Mall Manager Matthew De Guzman also reached out to 470 affected drivers and operators of Pilillia Lakeshore Transport, PACCOCUDAI and MMTSOCTODA.
Aside from transport groups, SM Operations Tulong Express distributes 2000 Kalinga Packs to more communities in the East. Among them are Sitios Tibagan and Unirock in Antipolo City, Sitios Tinapahan and Minahang Bato in Angono, Sitio Broadway in San Mateo, Sitio Bilucao in Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Sitios Tambuli, Tambangan, Kalantiao, Justia in Brgy Kalumpang, Marikina City and Morales Compound in Bgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig City
SM Operation Tulong Express is an immediate response activated to extend assistance to communities in form of basic needs during calamities.