Sustainable development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) are key concerns of today’s urban development driven by a heightened urgency to address the adverse impacts of climate change. Resolute to address the ever-evolving needs of property seekers, SM Development Corporation (SMDC) understands that this is more than just a trend, with the company developing many sustainable communities across the country, and is committed to develop even more.
In a speech during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2022, Jessica Sy, Assistant Vice President – Business Development and Cluster Head at SMDC, emphasized the importance of building innovative and sustainable lifestyle communities that bring together commercial complexes, residential developments, schools, offices, hotels, and even event spaces. “Our design philosophy is grounded in the idea of creating the perfect home and community Filipino’s aspire to own,” said Sy.
The developer is a member of the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) – a network of private sector entities led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), driven to support and implements the Sendai Framework. The Sendai framework provides UN member states with actionable solutions to safeguard development gains from the risks of disaster.
As such, SMDC harnesses the power of public-private partnerships in creating sustainable communities and making the Philippines more resilient. Attention to the environment is the most apparent in SMDC’s disaster resilience plan. For one, their property designs are anchored on persistent efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as each SMDC community’s carbon footprint.
This is exemplified in the allotment of at least 20 percent and up to 60 percent of each development’s land area to open spaces. Landscaping and vegetation are well-maintained by SMDC’s property management team to reduce heat gain within each site. Likewise, portions of the structure are built on stilts and are suspended from the site’s soil grade – both to preserve the abundance of trees in the community, and to act as a natural defense against flooding.
Water and energy efficiencies are also key practices in SMDC’s communities. As an effort to conserve electricity, LED lights are installed. Living spaces and common areas are designed in a way that allows ample natural light and ventilation. Meanwhile, detention tanks regulate water outflow, and help with flood control in the area.
“More than just building condominiums, we build communities of people. We are conduits of nation-building, and we create a positive impact on the lives of our residents and the broader community that we belong to,” Sy shared.
