SM Prime investing in resilient infrastructure

“An efficient and resilient critical infrastructure is imperative for the overall well-being of a nation, its citizens, its economy.”

Hans T. Sy, executive committee chair of SM Prime Holdings, issued this statement during the recently concluded “The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction” conference in Cancun, Mexico, the world’s foremost gathering of leaders and major stakeholders on the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The biennial event is the international venue to  share experiences and best practices and to provide strategic guidance for carrying out the two global DRR  agreements—the 2005 and its post-2015 successor, the Sendai Framework.

It was attended by 6,000 delegates from the government, civil society, the private sector and the academe.

“SM Prime allocates 10 percent of capital expenditure for DRR in construction of buildings.   By investing in resilience, we minimize vulnerability, better safeguard physical assets, reduce recovery expense and contribute to local government efforts. Ultimately, we are able to better protect lives and have safer, healthier, happier communities,“ Sy said.

Sy was a key panelist in the working session of the  plenary that covered the topic, “Ensuring Risk Resilient Critical Infrastructure.”

Sy, the only Filipino member of the UNISDR Arise (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies) said that each business should be “DRR-responsible” in the areas where they operate