Timothy Daniels, Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability at SM Investments Corporation discusses SM’s sustainability initiatives that create meaningful impact in the communities.
SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent firm of the SM Group, reaffirmed its commitment to practical and inclusive sustainability during The Dirty Work of Doing Good, a sustainability conference hosted by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.
Speaking before industry leaders and sustainability advocates, Timothy Daniels, SM Investments Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability, said the company’s sustainability philosophy is grounded in actionable and measurable impact.
“For us, sustainability has to be practical. It’s not about making easy promises, but about creating shared value. The strategy has to be a win for all our stakeholders, not just the business. The ecosystem must move together for the common good,” Daniels emphasized.
Given SM’s broad presence in property, retail, banking, logistics, and renewable energy, Daniels said that sustainability initiatives must be scalable and integrated into operations so that benefits are felt by communities as much as by the company itself.
With the Philippines being one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, Daniels underscored that disaster resilience is a shared national responsibility. Since 2005, SM has allocated at least 10 percent of its annual capital expenditures for disaster-resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
Among the examples he cited was SM City Marikina, which stands on 246 stilts to protect against river overflows during typhoons, and has long served as a safe haven for nearby residents. Additionally, 41 SM properties are equipped with rainwater catchment systems that can collectively store 85,400 cubic meters of water—the equivalent of 34 Olympic-sized swimming pools—helping mitigate floods in surrounding communities.
Daniels also highlighted SM’s efforts to drive inclusive development through its integrated city model, which unites retail, offices, hotels, convention centers, and educational institutions such as National University campuses to nurture thriving urban ecosystems.
Over 100,000 MSME partners form part of SM Retail’s vast value chain, while BDO and China Bank extended a combined ₱72 billion in loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises in 2024.
SM’s investments in renewable energy also continue to expand through the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), which operates steam fields in Tiwi, Albay and Mak-Ban in Laguna and Batangas, while exploring five more concession areas, including Mt. Malinao in Albay.
“At the end of the day, our vision is serious,” Daniels said. “We’re not just here to be a big company. We’re here to help build and develop the communities we serve.”
Through practical sustainability, SM continues to bridge economic progress and social responsibility—turning the “dirty work of doing good” into a long-term commitment to resilience, inclusivity, and shared prosperity.