Last July 2025, SM Foundation Inc., through SM City Iloilo, has extended another batch of support to the 2,400 vendors of the Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets by distributing Kalinga Packs—special gift packs containing essential goods aimed at providing continuous assistance during the market redevelopment.
The initiative forms part of SM’s continuing commitment to community development and public-private partnership, ensuring that small vendors and their families are not left behind amid the modernization of the city’s major public markets.
Each Kalinga Pack contains rice and basic food items to help sustain households while vendors temporarily adjust to the changes brought by the construction. The turnover was warmly received, with vendors expressing gratitude for the timely assistance.
SM City Iloilo management underscored that the support reflects their dedication to inclusive growth. Through SM Foundation’s Kalinga Packs, SM hopes to ease their burdens and remind them that they have partners walking with them during this transition.
Local officials also recognized the importance of the initiative, noting that collaborative efforts between the private sector and the city government help ensure the welfare of stakeholders affected by development projects.
The ongoing redevelopment of the Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets promises world-class climate-resilient facilities that will benefit vendors and consumers alike. While waiting for the grand reopening, the Kalinga Packs from SM Foundation serve as a symbol of malasakit and bayanihan, values deeply rooted in the Ilonggo spirit.
