SM Prime’s Hans Sy champions private sector leadership in disaster resilience at UNDRR Global Platform 2025

Hans Sy speaking in the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025), organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and co-chaired by the Government of Switzerland.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) Executive Committee Chairman Hans Sy emphasized the private sector's critical role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's (UNDRR) 2025 Global Platform in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Sy, representing the Philippine private sector at the Ministerial Roundtable on “Accelerating Financing and Resilience,” emphasized how businesses may contribute to the development of scalable, science-based resilience solutions.

Private sector as a force multiplier in DRR

“Resilience strengthens businesses while safeguarding lives and communities. We know the government cannot do it alone. The private sector is ready to do more. Disasters may be unpredictable, but their impacts don’t have to be. We can—and must—prepare, mitigate, and adapt. From the standpoint of the private sector, financial, non-financial and regulatory incentives are among the most effective ways to accelerate investment in resilience. Together, we can embed resilience to build a sustainable and secure future for all.” ~Hans Sy, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) Executive Committee Chairman

Sy underscores the need for policies, incentives, and institutional support to scale up disaster risk reduction investments at the UNDRR Global Platform 2025.

He emphasized SM Prime's comprehensive approach to disaster risk reduction, which involves committing a major amount of project costs to disaster-resilient infrastructure and using science-based planning frameworks.

Sy also cited cross-sector efforts like the Adopt-a-City Program with the National Resilience Council and joint capacity-building programs with ARISE Philippines and the Department of Trade and Industry as examples of successful public-private collaborations.

Embedding resilience into core business strategy

In a High-Level Dialogue on Scaling DRR Financing, Sy described SM Prime's approach to integrating resilience into its developments.  He emphasized characteristics such as raised mall buildings, built-in rainwater collecting systems, and earthquake-resistant designs—solutions that have reduced disturbance and allowed for speedy recovery in the aftermath of disaster.

The SM Mall of Asia Complex features a higher seawall and elevated design to guard against rising sea levels. (Inset) Deep, wide drainage channels—large enough to fit two buses side by side—further protect the area from storm surge flooding.

Call to scale resilience investment

To expand DRR financing, Sy called for enabling mechanisms that combine policy support, institutional cooperation, and targeted incentives. 

His remarks underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and long-term thinking in building resilient communities. SM Prime’s leadership in DRR continues to set a benchmark for

sustainable development in disaster-prone regions.