SM Investments Corporation, the parent company of the SM Group, has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) to strengthen disaster resilience through the use of science-based hazard and risk information in planning its properties and operations nationwide.
SM Investments Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels and PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol signed a memorandum of agreement covering SM’s use of GeoRiskPH, a government platform that consolidates information on natural hazards and related risks.
Under the agreement, SM will utilize GeoRiskPH tools, including HazardHunterPH Pro, GeoMapperPH, PlanSmart, and GeoAnalyticsPH, to assess potential hydrometeorological and geological hazards affecting its facilities, assets, and operational sites. The information will support decisions on property development, business continuity, asset management, and long-term investments.
“Partnerships like this with the private sector contribute significantly in helping us better understand the country’s multi-faceted needs regarding resilience,” Bacolcol said, noting that public-private collaborations that integrate data-driven hazard tools into business planning are important to disaster risk reduction and sustainable national development.
For SM, the partnership forms part of its long-term commitment to building resilient businesses and communities.
“Understanding the risks around our properties and operations helps us make better decisions about where and how we invest,” Daniels said. “Working with DOST-PHIVOLCS gives us access to the country’s scientific expertise and better information to strengthen our businesses and the communities we serve.”
The initiative supports SM’s broader approach to climate adaptation and disaster resilience by integrating scientific data into investment, asset management, and business continuity planning. It also highlights the role of private-sector partnerships in strengthening national resilience as businesses continue to invest and expand across the Philippines.
