SM Investments Corporation has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DoST-Phivolcs) in a first-of-its-kind initiative that positions the SM Group as the first conglomerate to complete training on GeoRiskPH, a digital platform for disaster and climate risk assessment.

The two-day training introduced nearly 60 executives and representatives from across the SM Group to GeoRiskPH, a suite of online tools that identifies location-specific vulnerabilities to seismic, volcanic and hydro-meteorological hazards, including climate-related risks.

Participants came from SM Prime Holdings Inc., SM Retail Inc., SM Markets, BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corporation, 2GO Group Inc. and Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc., among others.

“As a group, we welcome this partnership as an important step in harnessing science-based tools to deepen our understanding of disaster and climate risks and in demonstrating how the public and private sectors can work together to protect our communities,” said Koleen Davila Palaganas, head of the SM Group Sustainability Office.

“Given the SM Group’s presence across the regions, the effective use of GeoRiskPH can also contribute to the safety of our employees and communities, as well as enable faster and more informed disaster response and relief operations,” she added.

GeoRiskPH serves as a central platform for hazard and risk information, allowing users to conduct assessments anytime and anywhere at no cost. Since its approval in 2019, the system has expanded to include tools such as HazardHunterPH, GeoMapperPH, GeoAnalyticsPH and PlanSmart, which support risk-informed planning, land-use decisions, and disaster recovery efforts.

DoST-Phivolcs Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol said the initiative strengthens collaboration between government and the private sector.

“This initiative is a proactive solution to better equip our stakeholders such as local government units, national government agencies, and now the private sector to protect the livelihoods and lives of our communities,” Bacolcol said.

“This partnership boosts confidence and trust within our communities to have the support of a longstanding public partner such as SM, which is now utilizing the platforms,” he added.

China Banking Corporation chief sustainability officer William Quesang said the partnership allows institutions to manage risks more effectively.

“For us at Chinabank, it provides us tools to be able to actively manage our risk exposure, rather than just be reactive to events and helps us in the assessment of future sites for our branches,” he said.

GeoRiskPH is a multi-agency project led by Phivolcs and funded by the DoST, with support from the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

SM also continues to integrate climate and disaster resilience into its developments through SM Prime, with seven properties achieving LEED Gold certification. Portfolio investment NEO has likewise incorporated resilience features across seven green-certified buildings in Bonifacio Global City.