SM Retail, the retail arm of SM Investments Corporation, received the Privacy Management Program Award from the National Privacy Commission (NPC) at the National Data Privacy Conference, in recognition of its industry-leading commitment to data protection and compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The award honors organizations demonstrating structured and proactive privacy governance—including robust policy implementation, risk management, and accountability mechanisms. SM Retail was cited for integrating privacy practices into daily operations, deploying embedded Data Protection Officers (DPOs) across its business units, and implementing regular internal privacy and cybersecurity training.
“This recognition underscores the value of strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and layman-friendly training embedded in real-world application,” said Honeylin Castolo, vice president of SM Retail. She credited the award to the firm’s Data Privacy Compliance Team, led by Leyson N. San Juan, the company’s DPO.
The program’s success has not only reinforced employee awareness but also translated into stronger customer safeguards—contributing to the company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, which is closely monitored by rating agencies. Castolo emphasized that data privacy is both a compliance and strategic business priority: “It strengthens our brand’s trust and long-term value.”
In addition to winning the Privacy Management Program Award, SM Retail was also named a finalist for the NPC Seal of Registration Award, while DPO Leyson N. San Juan was recognized as a finalist for Data Protection Officer of the Year.
The awarding was part of Privacy Awareness Week (PAW), an annual initiative led by the NPC to promote responsible data processing in the Philippines.
