SM Investments Corp. underscored its commitment to practical and scalable sustainability efforts during The Dirty Work of Doing Good, a conference hosted by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.
Speaking at the event, Timothy Daniels, SM’s Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability, emphasized that sustainability must deliver tangible value across the group’s core businesses—property, retail, banking, logistics, and renewable energy. “It’s not about making easy promises,” Daniels said. “It’s about creating shared value that benefits all stakeholders.”
As one of the country’s largest conglomerates, SM has long prioritized disaster resilience, especially amid the Philippines’ climate vulnerabilities. Since 2005, 10 percent of its capital expenditures have gone to disaster-resilient infrastructure, including SM City Marikina, which is built on stilts to withstand flooding, and 41 rainwater catchment facilities that can collectively store over 85,000 cubic meters of water.
Daniels also highlighted SM’s inclusive growth strategy through its integrated city model—combining retail, education, offices, and hospitality to meet diverse community needs. SM Retail supports over 100,000 MSME partners, while its banks extended P72 billion in loans to MSMEs in 2024.
On the energy front, SM has invested in geothermal power through the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), with operations in Albay, Laguna, and Batangas, and further exploration in five additional sites.
“We’re not just here to be a big company,” Daniels concluded. “We’re here to help build and develop the communities we serve.”
