SM Retail, the retail arm of the SM Group, received the NPC Seal of Registration Compliance Excellence Award for the Private Sector at the National Data Privacy Conference in Parañaque City. In photo are officers from the SM Retail Data Privacy & Protection Team, from left: Bernadette C. Salinas, Chief Data Officer; Atty. Mikhail Josef P. Soriano, Manager; Leyson N. San Juan, Data Protection Officer and AVP; Lorenz Victor D. Anyayahan, Senior Manager; and Luis Angelo D. De Castro, Senior Manager.
As consumers become increasingly conscious of how their personal information is collected, stored, and protected, SM Retail is proving that safeguarding customer trust goes far beyond compliance—it is a commitment embedded in the way the company does business.
The retail arm of the SM Group recently earned national recognition for its leadership in data privacy, taking home the NPC Seal of Registration Compliance Excellence Award for the Private Sector at the National Data Privacy Conference organized by the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
The distinction is awarded to organizations that demonstrate exceptional transparency and accountability in data protection, particularly through the visible and consistent display of their NPC Seal of Registration across customer touchpoints, both online and offline.
For SM Retail, the recognition represents years of continuous work to strengthen privacy practices across one of the country’s largest retail networks.
“We are grateful for this recognition from the NPC. We understand how critical data governance is in maintaining customer trust and loyalty. This award reflects the collective effort of the different business units across SM Retail to strengthen data privacy compliance and awareness,” said Jonathan Ng, President of SM Retail.
More Than Compliance, A Culture of Trust
In today’s digital-first environment, data privacy is no longer simply a regulatory requirement—it has become a business imperative.
From loyalty programs and e-commerce transactions to digital payments and customer engagement platforms, retailers handle vast amounts of personal information every day. Ensuring that this data remains protected requires not only robust systems but also a workforce that understands the importance of privacy at every level.
This commitment was further recognized as SM Retail emerged as a finalist for Privacy Initiative of the Year, highlighting the company’s efforts to make privacy awareness an integral part of everyday operations.
Through a series of learning modules, training sessions, and internal awareness campaigns, employees are equipped with practical knowledge on responsible data handling using real-world retail scenarios.
“These programs promote the responsible handling of personal data as part of everyday work using practical, retail-specific scenarios to make privacy more relevant and actionable for employees,” Ng added.
Recognizing the People Behind Privacy
Behind every successful privacy program is a team dedicated to protecting customer information and strengthening organizational accountability.
Among those recognized was Leyson San Juan, SM Retail’s Data Protection Officer, who was named a Finalist for Data Protection Officer of the Year for the second straight year—an acknowledgment of his leadership in advancing privacy governance throughout the organization.
The recognition reflects the work of SM Retail’s Data Privacy and Protection Team, which continues to champion initiatives that promote responsible data processing and reinforce compliance across the company’s extensive operations.
Raising the Bar for Responsible Retail
The latest awards add to SM Retail’s growing list of achievements in privacy governance, following its Privacy Management Program Award received last year.
Presented during Privacy Awareness Week (PAW)—the country’s annual celebration dedicated to promoting data privacy and responsible personal data processing—the honors underscore the increasing role of privacy as a cornerstone of business excellence.
As digital technologies continue to transform the retail experience, SM Retail’s latest recognition sends a clear message: protecting customer information is not just about meeting standards—it is about earning trust, strengthening relationships, and creating safer experiences for millions of Filipinos every day.