17 January 2013

Largest Filipino shopping chain joins UNISDR’s private sector advisory group

Source(s): United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Asia and Pacific

BANGKOK, 17 January 2013 - The largest chain of shopping malls in the Philippines, SM Prime Holdings, has taken its leadership in disaster resilience to yet another level by becoming the newest member of the UNISDR Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG).

"SM Prime Holdings is a leading example of how the private sector can protect jobs and ensure business as usual when disasters happen. I believe that many other CEOs and businesses can learn and benefit from President Hans Sy's engagement in disaster risk reduction," says Margareta Wahlström.

Following recurrent flooding of his businesses in Manila, SM Prime Holdings' President Hans T. Sy was one of the first managers in the Philippines to elevate the height of his shopping malls to protect them against future flooding and to adopt business continuity plans to secure his supply chains and the salaries of his workers.

In cooperation with UNISDR, he also hosted the first 'Top Leaders Forum - Building an Asian Private Partnership to Make Corporations Safer Against Disasters' in Manila last September. The company is also one of over 30 members that have joined UNISDR’s growing Disaster Risk Reduction Private Sector Partnership initiative.

Created at the 2011 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the PSAG will again play a role at the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction taking place in Geneva, Switzerland this May.

The PSAG represents the wider private sector and works with UNISDR to address and advocates for disaster risk reduction in the sector. It includes leading global private sector players from construction, insurance, and telecommunications industry who recognize disaster risk reduction as a key investment to improve their competitiveness and reputation.

UNISDR's Private Sector Advisory Group includes Aris Papadopoulos, CEO Titan America; Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Construction Co., LTD; Maxime Chretien, Associate Partner, Forensic and Dispute Services Deloitte SA; Philip Verges, Founder Small Equity Initiative; Sandra Wu, President and CEO Kokusai Kogyo Holdings, Co. Ltd; and Thomas R. Loster, Chairman MunichRe Foundation.