GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy reaffirmed the critical role of the private sector in advancing disaster risk reduction (DRR) during the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Platform 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland from June 2-5.
Private sector leadership in DRR
At the Ministerial Roundtable themed “Accelerating Financing and Resilience: Tailored Solutions for DRR,” Sy emphasized the importance of embedding resilience into business strategies. “Resilience strengthens businesses while safeguarding lives and communities,” he stated. “We know that the government cannot do it alone. The private sector is ready to do more.”
Sy highlighted SM Prime’s commitment to DRR through strategic investments, allocating significant project costs to disaster-resilient infrastructure and leveraging science-based planning. He promoted public-private partnerships, including the Adopt-a-City Program with the National Resilience Council, and capacity-building initiatives with ARISE Philippines and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Integrating DRR into core business strategy
During the High-Level Dialogue on scaling DRR financing solutions, Sy shared insights on motivating private developers to invest in resilience. He detailed SM Prime’s experience integrating DRR into its core strategy, citing resilient design features in SM malls such as elevated structures, rainwater catchment systems, and earthquake-resistant engineering that have minimized damage and ensured business continuity.
“Disasters may be unpredictable, but the impact does not have to be—we can, and we must, prepare, mitigate, and adapt,” he emphasized.
Sy called for enabling mechanisms to scale DRR investments. “Scaling up DRR financing is a combination of policy, incentives, and institutional approaches,” he noted. “From the standpoint of the private sector, incentives—financial, regulatory, and non-financial—are among the most effective and attractive methods.”
His remarks underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and long-term thinking in building resilient communities, with SM Prime’s leadership continuing to set a benchmark for sustainable development in disaster-prone regions.
“Together, we can embed resilience to build a sustainable and secure future for all,” he concluded.
Sy’s participation reaffirms SM Prime’s leadership in climate resilience and commitment to inclusive, science-based solutions for a safer world.
