SM Prime, UNDRR commend women leaders in disaster resilience

SMPHI is sponsoring Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”

“We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.

There were 15 shortlisted finalists from 420 nominations received from across 24 Asia-Pacific countries in the WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime. Pacific geo-hazards expert Esline Garaebiti & Indian researcher of river flood risk Dr. Homolata Borah were awarded top honours for achieving exceptional professional success in DRR at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane last September 21, 2022. Excellence award winner, Ms. Garaebiti is the Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management in Vanuatu, while Rising Star award winner Dr. Borah, works with communities on Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island where river erosion is an existential issue. The awards come with a cash prize to celebrate women's achievements in reducing disaster risk. There are two award categories – the Excellence Award, proudly sponsored by SM Prime Inc., worth US$10,000 and the Rising Star Award worth US$7,500.

The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

The Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”

Visit www.smprime.com for more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness.

SM Prime forges partnership with WWF Philippines towards driving Fundamental Climate Change Solutions

 

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., and leading conservation organization World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines have entered a collaboration in adopting a more robust reporting framework to address the climate crisis.
Sustainability at SM Prime is at the core of its corporate identity. SM Prime is at the forefront of spearheading sustainable practices as well as setting records in pioneering programs to consciously protect the environment and strongly focus on resilience in its developments.

This major partnership of WWF with a Philippine company is expected to develop practical pathways to decarbonization. Under the partnership, SM Prime will adopt the Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI), WWF-Philippines’ flagship program that provides an actionable framework for organizations to operate sustainably within the paradigm of the climate crisis.

“We are delighted to work with WWF Philippines on this sustainable journey. Focusing sustainability within the context of the Philippines ensures that our strategies and projects are highly material, efficient and more responsive in addressing local concerns surrounding resilience and adaptation. We need to be one with the worldwide community to achieve this and we need to work with global experts to get this right,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. The Philippines is extremely vulnerable to climate change. It currently ranks third globally when it comes to climate change vulnerability. Due to its geographical location, it is more exposed to altering intensities of climate change manifested through erratic weather systems and natural calamities.

Organizations should rise up to the challenge and set the tone from the top in delivering transformative change as they transition to net zero commitment. Curbing global temperature rise will take commitment and partnership. Businesses should reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and take other steps to reduce its carbon footprint. Firms typically fail to properly assess their implications. The CBPI program takes a holistic approach towards this pivotal issue, addressing these risks from a custom-built, science-based perspective.

By partnering with the WWF, SM Prime will be able to enhance and determine climate change solutions that will be reflected through responsible and transparent reporting.

The first phase of CBPI involves gauging where SM Prime stands in its sustainability initiatives and setting a science-based target in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. SM Prime published its first Integrated Report in 2021 under the Integrated Reporting Framework which provides an overview of our value creation model — how we seek to create value for our stakeholders by contributing to national progress through investments and interventions critical to the country’s socio-economic growth.

As a champion of climate action in the Philippines, SM Prime’s partnership with WWF adds another enhancement to transparent reporting by ensuring greenhouse gas (GHG) computations are accurate and use appropriate methodologies. This partnership forms part of group-wide efforts under the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

SM Prime’s partnership with WWF dates back to 2007 under Hamilo Coast, its leisure resort development in Nasugbu, Batangas.

WWF closely monitors the health and viability of the Hamilo Coast area including three of its coves designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)—the Pico de Loro, Etayo and Santelmo. And in recognition of its conservation efforts, Hamilo Coast was cited by WWF-Philippines as its longest standing Sustainability Partner in 2020.

Hamilo Coast and WWF: lifelong allies in eco-tourism and sustainability

Hamilo Coast is on track as a thriving model of sustainable eco-tourism practices.

Touting 5,800 hectares of prime seaside development, Hamilo Coast is a project of SM Prime's Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. (CDHI), which carefully integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses in the sprawling estate. Beyond its vast scope and stunning vistas, Hamilo Coast embraces sustainable tourism at the core of its philosophy and shows how beautiful beachfront homes can harmonize with nature and the environment.

This premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas, has been working together with the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) on key areas for sustainability—coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, mangrove reforestation , the use of renewable energy sources, and environmental awareness. And 2022 marks Hamilo Coast's 15th year long-standing collaboration with WWF in pursuing eco-tourism and sustainability while upholding international standards for leisure property development.

Mrs. Imee G. Francisco, Vice President and Head of CDHI Projects and Operations, takes pride in the partnership's objectives. "More than building and maintaining a beautiful community, we seek to create and sustain a world that future generations can enjoy. To help serve this end, CDHI continues to develop Hamilo Coast without compromising the quality of wildlife living around it.”

This year, Hamilo Coast and WWF will focus on addressing the major components on waste management, which include assessment of solid waste, water and wastewater management practices, formulation of environmental management plan, and the promotion of food shed farming systems. Hamilo Coast and WWF will continuously work on programs that will help conserve, protect, and nurture the environment as well.

Hamilo Coast and WWF's Ridge to Reef program declared three of Hamilo Coast's 13 coves–Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo–as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are coastal zones where human activities are strictly regulated to ensure their long-term conservation. Declaring more MPAs would also mean expanding Hamilo Coast's scope in safeguarding more marine ecosystems and resources.

Moreover, Hamilo Coast continues to implement a mangrove reforestation program in its 24-hectare mangrove belt—one of the largest in Nasugbu. Here, Hamilo has planted 50,000 propagules hand-in-hand with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.

Mangroves are the first line of defense for coastal communities, stabilizing shorelines by averting erosion and providing natural barriers to storm surges, flooding, and hurricanes. As an effective carbon storage, mangroves absorb six times more carbon than mature tropical forests, making it all the more vital in slowing down the effects of climate change.

Finally, Hamilo Coast and WWF will further push for environmental awareness by celebrating occasions that show respect for biodiversity. One is the annually held Earth Hour, during which time people are urged to shut down electricity to make a substantial difference in energy consumption. Individuals, organizations, and establishments also come together on Coral Triangle Day to shed light on ocean conservation and the ways we can protect and preserve the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity.

The said development boasts of the largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health, made possible with the International Coastal Cleanup, where people gather on the Pico and Santelmo beaches to collect trash and record information on the collected debris. And for all these sustained efforts, WWF has awarded Hamilo Coast with the Longest Sustainability Partner Award, recognizing the development’s commitment to sustainable tourism and its positive impact on the Philippine tourism industry.

Francisco affirms, “CDHI is proud of how far we have come at Hamilo Coast with the help of WWF. This inspires us to do even more, in the hopes that our efforts will make it possible for future generations to witness the beauty of nature as we see it today.”

Hamilo Coast and WWF is set to further push for environmental awareness by celebrating occasions that show respect for biodiversity such as the Coastal Clean Up. Do visit www.hamilocoast.com for more info on this seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas.