A Blueprint for the Future: DTI, PRA, SCMAP, and SM Supermalls Launch a Bold Employment Initiative to Transform the Philippine Retail Sector

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

June 16, 2025 — SM City North EDSA became more than just a shopping destination. It transformed into a launchpad for dreams, a marketplace of opportunity, and a symbol of unity among the government, private sector, and the Filipino workforce. On this historic day, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), and the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), in partnership with SM Supermalls, unveiled the ambitious and visionary “Section G: Job Blueprint for the Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector.”

This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in the Philippines’ drive to create a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient employment landscape—especially in one of the nation’s most pivotal sectors: wholesale and retail trade. With over 10 million Filipinos employed in this sector, the blueprint could not have arrived at a more critical time.

More Than a Launch—A Lifeline for the Filipino Worker

At the heart of the event was a two-day job fair—but it was no ordinary hiring event. It was a full-scale mobilization of talent, ambition, and cooperation. Hundreds of job seekers flooded the halls of SM City North EDSA, resumes in hand, hope in their hearts, and determination in their eyes. For many, it wasn’t just about landing a job—it was about regaining dignity, stability, and a chance to build a better future.

Roles in merchandising, warehousing, logistics, and frontline retail were on offer, with member companies from PRA and SCMAP actively recruiting on-site. From fresh graduates eager to take their first professional steps, to seasoned workers displaced by the pandemic and inflation, the event catered to all.

"This is more than just a job fair—it’s a call to action,” declared Joaquin San Agustin, Executive Vice President of Marketing at SM Supermalls. “We are proud to partner with DTI, PRA, and SCMAP in hosting this meaningful initiative that connects people to opportunity and promotes inclusive employment.”

The Power of Collaboration: Government, Business, and Malls Unite

The presence of key industry leaders at the media launch underscored the significance of this joint endeavor. Among those leading the charge were:

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque

DTI Assistant Secretary Engelbert Chua

PRA President Roberto Claudio Sr.

SCMAP President Dennis Llovido

SM Supermalls AVP for Job Fairs Royce Cabunag

Their unified front spoke volumes about the power of cross-sectoral collaboration to address real-world challenges—especially in closing employment gaps and addressing the evolving needs of the modern retail and logistics industries.

Developed after extensive stakeholder consultations, the Section G Job Blueprint provides a strategic roadmap for future workforce reforms. It identifies skill gaps, forecasts labor trends, and recommends training and employment solutions aligned with current and future demands of the retail and supply chain ecosystem.

SM Supermalls: Championing Economic Recovery, One Job at a Time

With its nationwide presence and deep community roots, SM Supermalls has long been a catalyst for grassroots transformation. Hosting the job fair was not a mere gesture—it was a reflection of the mall giant’s larger commitment to nation-building and sustainable development.

Through programs that empower micro-, small-, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), champion career mobility, and enable community entrepreneurship, SM continues to redefine what it means to be a business for the people.

“SM is not just about retail—it’s about relationships,” said a participant from a logistics firm at the event. “And today, we’re building relationships that could change lives.”

A Stronger Retail Trade Sector on the Horizon

As the dust settles and resumes are exchanged for employment contracts, one thing becomes crystal clear: the launch of Section G is just the beginning.

With its actionable recommendations and sector-specific focus, the blueprint is poised to serve as the backbone of future reforms in trade employment. It is an acknowledgment that retail is not just about selling goods—it’s about sustaining livelihoods, fueling economies, and empowering people.

And for the thousands of Filipinos who left the job fair with newfound purpose and a promise of employment, this was not just another government program.

It was a life-changing blueprint.

About SM Supermalls Job Fairs

As a key division of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., SM Supermalls leads not only in mall development but also in community upliftment. Its job fairs are more than corporate social responsibility—they are engines of opportunity that bridge the gap between job seekers and inclusive economic growth. Through these platforms, SM continues to prove that malls can be more than commercial spaces—they can be gateways to hope.

From Vision to Action: The Road Ahead

With Section G now in motion, the real work begins—training, hiring, scaling, and adapting to future challenges. But with partnerships like this and a clear path ahead, the Philippines’ retail and supply chain sectors are poised not just to recover—but to thrive.

Indeed, the future of Philippine employment just got a powerful new roadmap—and it’s signed, sealed, and launched by those who believe that every Filipino deserves a fair shot at a better life.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.