Daily Newsmakers

In a joint effort for Manila Bay, SM Prime Holdings (SM Prime), together with the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was present for the handover of a state-of-the-art catamaran  trash boat to complement the ongoing battle against water pollution. DENR received the boat last January 31,  along with essential navigation and safety equipment as well as cleaning tools. The 30-foot catamaran will be  operated by the DENR Metropolitan Environmental Office - South Zone and will contribute to the agency's  capacity to combat water pollution and preserve the vital marine ecosystem.

As the world continues to grapple with depleting resources, the need for renewable energy has never been  more urgent. Malls, as significant energy consumers, have a unique opportunity to lead the charge towards a  greener, more sustainable future by adopting renewable energy solutions that can significantly reduce their  environmental impact.

SM City Baguio is making significant strides in water stewardship with its innovative rainwater treatment facility (RTF), launched in July 2023. In the months since, the facility has already processed over 17,111.80 cubic meters of rainwater – equivalent to 7 Olympic-size swimming pools, or enough to fill over 6,800 standard water tankers – into potable water for the SM mall’s operations and for their lessees’ use. 

SM Prime Holdings (SM Prime) played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable urban development by hosting  the 7th annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes (APRU-SCL) 2024Conference and 3rd International Conference on Human Settlements Planning and Development (ICHSPD) at SMX Convention Center Aura. This prestigious event, organized by the University of the Philippines Los  Baños (UPLB), brought together over 300 experts to discuss innovative solutions for building greener and  more resilient cities. Focused on the theme "Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities Through Science, Technology, and Innovation," the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing urban  challenges.

The Philippines tops the list of countries with the highest disaster risk, thus building our capacity to respond,  bounce back and adapt to intensifying climate impacts is a nationwide priority and shared responsibility. “Any program that aims to build climate resilience requires strong partnerships and working together across allsectors,” said World-Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-PH) Executive Director, Katherine Custodio at  the breakout session of the 7 th Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024). 

SM 1 What makes a city thrive is a combination of how developers create opportunities for movement, synergy, and prosperity. It’s a combination of celebrating life to its fullest capacity with the community at its very heart. 

SM Prime and DENR calls on cities to innovate and invest in water-saving technologies to avert water crisis at the "Towards a Greener Footprint" forum.