Sy family-led SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to incorporate hazard and risk data into its operations and investment planning, the company said Friday.
On Friday, SMIC Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels and Phivolcs Director Teresito C. Bacolcol signed an agreement, which formalized SM’s access to GeoRiskPH, the government’s platform for hazard and risk information.
As part of the agreement, SM will get access to GeoRiskPH tools, including HazardHunterPH Pro, GeoMapper PH, PlanSmart, and GeoAnalyticsPH, to assess its facilities, assets, and operational sites for exposure to weather-related and geological hazards.
In addition, the company said it will use the data to guide property development, business continuity, asset management, and long-term investment decisions.
‘Partnerships like this with the private sector contribute significantly in helping us better understand the country’s multi-faceted needs regarding resilience,’ Bacolcol said.
Likewise, he added that integrating data-driven hazard assessments into business planning can help reduce disaster risks and support sustainable development.
For SM, the partnership will provide access to scientific expertise and hazard information to strengthen its businesses and the communities it serves, Daniels said.
‘Working with Phivolcs gives us access to the country’s scientific expertise and better information to strengthen our businesses and the communities we serve,’ he said.
The agreement forms part of Phivolc’s efforts to involve more private companies in the country’s disaster resilience efforts.