SM Investments Corp. recently convened the “Sustainability Forum PH 2022” at the Conrad Manila in Pasay City.
In partnership with WWF Philippines, the group rallies the business community to be “United for Climate.”
Frederic DyBuncio, president and chief executive officer of SM Investments, highlighted at the forum the Filipino’s capacity for sustainable growth.
“As the world approaches the tail end of the pandemic, businesses are optimistic about sustaining the post-pandemic rebound. While this positive outlook may result in better conditions for businesses and the job market, we need to take a broader view of our resilience strategy if we are to bounce back better for the long term,” DyBuncio said.
DyBuncio highlighted “the need for a robust ecosystem to sustain developing countries through the devastating impact of climate change.”
At SM Group, he said, “we have ingrained resiliency in our culture — dedicating 10 percent of our capital expenditure or capex to incorporate disaster resiliency and sustainability in our infrastructure designs, equipping our people and communities in disaster preparedness and advocating for disaster resiliency among local governments and international communities.”
The conglomerate’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is leading the charge within the group.
DyBuncio noted the need to correct the perception that global issues only have a limited or isolated impact to a Philippine context.
He said the SM Group hopes to play an important role in curtailing “the devastating societal impacts that will weigh heaviest on the most vulnerable of communities.”
