SM Prime’s Hans Sy at UNISDR confab

• SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy discussed how investing in disaster risk reduction is good for business in his keynote speech at the recent Global Platform on

Disaster Risk Reduction at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Global Platform for Disaster Reduction was established in 2007 as a biennial forum across sectors, with the goal to improve implementation of disaster risk reduction through better communication and coordination amongst stakeholders.

The Global Platform is organized by UNISDR, the UN’s office for disaster risk reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

A record 3,500 people and representatives from 172 governments attended what is considered the world’s foremost gathering of stakeholders committed to reducing disaster risk and building the resilience of communities and nations.

“The UN Assembly asked us to develop a post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction in an inclusive process reflecting the views of all stakeholders,” says UNISDR head Margareta Wahlstrom.

“We have a greater diversity of voices here on site... This type of networking brings us closer to the all-of-society ideal we envision.”

Sy, a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the United Nations International Strategy on Risk Reduction, was invited as a keynote speaker to discuss how SM Prime safeguards the communities surrounding its malls by investing in disaster resilience.

He highlighted the concept of resilient investment by discussing case studies of two malls, SM Marikina and SM Muntinlupa. These are cases of innovative partnerships, close collaboration between the public and private sector, and examples of good practices.

In the case of SM Marikina, which not only stood strong, but also served as a refuge center during Typhoon Ondoy, he showed the importance of disaster risk reduction in adaptation and infrastructure in high- risk zones.

In the case of SM Muntinlupa, which is located close to a fault zone, he talked about how science-based data gathering allowed SM to invest properly in resilience measures.

“SM Prime places crucial importance on disaster resilience, not as an additional cost, but as part of our core business strategy,” Sy said. “It allows us to serve our communities better, to increase our value and to make us more profitable. But most of all, disaster resilience ensures the safety of our customers and the communities we operate.”

SM Prime’s disaster risk reduction efforts are some of the many ways it serves its customers and communities.

Special assistant to the UN Secretary General and UNISDR head Margareta Wahlstrom poses with SM Prime’s Hans Sy (second from right) during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction conference in Geneva where Sy was a keynote speaker. Also in photo are PSAG member and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Gary Domingo, Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Eduardo del Rosario.