SM Investments Corp., the parent company of the SM Group, has entered into a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) aimed at strengthening disaster resilience through the use of hazard and risk information, according to a statement released Friday.

SM Investments Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels and PHIVOLCS Director Teresito C. Bacolcol signed a memorandum of agreement on Friday covering SM's use of GeoRiskPH, a government platform that provides information on natural hazards and related risks.

Under the agreement, SM will apply GeoRiskPH tools — including HazardHunterPH Pro, Geomapper PH, PlanSmart, and GeoAnalyticsPH — to assess potential hydrometeorological and geological hazards that could affect its facilities, assets, and operational sites.

The resulting information will support planning for SM's properties and operations, including business continuity measures and long-term investment decisions.

The partnership carries particular weight in the Philippine setting, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The archipelago sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and faces frequent typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, which have repeatedly caused extensive damage to infrastructure and commerce. For a mall-and-property operator whose developments double as community gathering points during emergencies, integrating government hazard data into site planning reflects a broader shift among Philippine businesses toward embedding disaster risk reduction in long-term strategy.

"Partnerships like this with the private sector contribute significantly in helping us better understand the country's multi-faceted needs regarding resilience," Mr. Bacolcol said.

He added that integrating data-driven hazard assessment tools into business planning is important to disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.

For its part, SM said the partnership forms part of its broader efforts to incorporate climate adaptation and disaster resilience into its investment and asset management decisions.

"Understanding the risks around our properties and operations helps us make better decisions about where and how we invest," Mr. Daniels said.

The collaboration also underscores the role of private businesses in supporting national disaster resilience, particularly as SM continues to operate and expand properties across the country. — Edg Adrian A. Eva