Beyond the Tap: How SM Prime is Engineering a Water-Resilient Future for the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the bustling urban landscapes of the Philippines, a silent crisis is looming. As cities expand rapidly and the unpredictable effects of climate change intensify, the pressure on limited water resources has never been higher. While the challenge is daunting, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime)—one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers—is turning the tide, positioning water efficiency not just as a corporate responsibility, but as a core operational strategy for survival and sustainability.

The Blueprint for Resilience

SM Prime has moved far beyond basic conservation; they are re-engineering the very concept of water management in commercial spaces. The company has adopted a rigorous approach where every opportunity to collect and conserve water is explored.

The results of this strategic shift are statistically staggering. SM Prime has achieved a portfolio-wide water intensity of 0.44 m³/m²/year. To put this into perspective, this figure already surpasses the water efficiency standards of some of the leading global benchmarks.

"Our mall water management systems are already at par with some of the best in the world. We do this because we understand that every liter saved eases the pressure on local water resources and secures our operations for the long term." — Steven Tan, SM Supermalls President.

Innovation Beneath the Surface

How is a giant of retail achieving millions of liters in annual savings?. The answer lies in a blend of simple upgrades and complex, innovative engineering:

Stopping the Waste: The adoption of simple low-flow fixtures and water-saving technologies prevents unnecessary consumption at a massive scale.

Recycling the Invisible: The malls minimize dependence on fresh water by recycling processed water and even the condensate from air conditioning systems.

Turning Threats into Resources: In a move that addresses both scarcity and storm management, SM employs innovative approaches to capture portions of floodwater for non-potable use.

Icons of Sustainability: A Nationwide Effort

This commitment to water stewardship is visible across the archipelago, from the urban jungles of Metro Manila to the provinces.

The Global Giant: The SM Mall of Asia, one of the world's largest shopping malls, stands as a "sustainable marvel," utilizing these water-saving solutions to maintain its massive operations responsibly.

The Pioneer: SM City North Edsa was ahead of the curve, operating efficiently even before the Clean Water Act of 2004. Its famous Sky Garden, a 400-meter green roof, offers a lush escape in the dense city while lessening dependence on freshwater sources for non-potable uses.

The Provincial Model: At SM City Laoag, innovation translates to everyday responsibility. The mall recycles non-potable water for a variety of needs, including landscaping, garden irrigation, cleaning, and toilet flushing.

The Visayan Powerhouse: SM Seaside City Cebu, the fourth-largest mall in the country, proves that efficiency is a nationwide standard, utilizing recycled water for its cleaning and landscaping needs.

Cultivating a Culture of Conservation

SM Prime recognizes that upgrading hardware is only half the battle; the other half is upgrading mindsets. Culturally integrating sustainability values is a critical part of their solution.

Through the SM Green Movement, the company champions water stewardship alongside waste management and energy efficiency. This vision is communicated through SM Cares, a community platform that utilizes interactive and visually rich content to engage the public. This digital-first approach effectively captures the attention of the younger, digitally active Gen Z and millennial workforce, ensuring the message of conservation resonates with the next generation.

A Shared Responsibility

The ultimate goal of SM Prime is to create a sustainable mall experience that brings people together to ensure water availability for tomorrow. As the company continues to develop residences, offices, and leisure properties, they remain committed to creating spaces that support community growth without compromising the environment.

As Steven Tan powerfully summarizes, the path to a water-resilient future is a collective journey:

"Our work in the malls is to make sure that we give you the best experience without compromising the needs of tomorrow, but of course, we cannot do it alone. When we combine all our actions as a community, no matter how big or small these are, we can all enjoy a water-resilient future.".

From Job Seeker to History Maker: How One Application in Tuguegarao Marked a National Milestone

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

TUGUEGARAO CITY — In the bustling halls of SM City Tuguegarao, a simple decision to show up transformed into a historic moment for the Filipino workforce. As the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) celebrated its 92nd Founding Anniversary, it partnered with SM Supermalls to mark an achievement that goes far beyond statistics: the hiring of the 30,000th applicant on the spot.

This milestone is not just a number; it represents thousands of lives irrevocably changed through a powerful collaboration between the government and the private sector.

A Life Changed in an Instant

The spotlight of the anniversary fell on Ms. Rachelle Navalta, an aspiring job seeker who arrived at the job fair with hope and determination. She left with much more than she expected: a confirmed position as a Service Crew member at McDonald’s and the distinction of being the program’s 30,000th Hired-On-The-Spot (HOTS) individual.

Her reaction captured the raw emotion of the event. Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, Navalta shared:

“Hindi po ako makapaniwala… nag-try lang po akong mag-apply dito sa job fair dito sa SM. Hindi ko po akalain na hired on the spot ako.” (I can’t believe it… I just tried to apply here at the job fair at SM. I didn’t expect to be hired on the spot.) 

Navalta’s story is the heartbeat of the SM-DOLE partnership—turning the simple act of showing up into a life-altering opportunity. In her joy, she offered a rallying cry for other Filipino job seekers: “Wag po kayong matakot mag-try. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang nakatakdang mangyari sa ating buhay.” (Don’t be afraid to try. We never know what is destined to happen in our lives.) 

By the Numbers: A Nationwide Movement

While Navalta’s story took center stage in Tuguegarao, it is part of a massive, nationwide wave of employment initiatives. Since November 2023, the SM-DOLE Job Fair Program has become a juggernaut for employment.

370+ Job Fairs: Mounted nationwide to bring opportunities closer to communities.

220,000+ Job Seekers: Supported through accessible platforms and guidance.

30,000+ Hired-On-The-Spot: A testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of these events.

This relentless drive reflects a shared mission to widen access to meaningful employment and uplift communities across the Philippines.

More Than a Mall: A Bridge to Dreams

The leadership behind this initiative views these job fairs as vital infrastructure for nation-building. Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, emphasized that the malls have evolved into conduits for hope.

“Our partnership through the SM–DOLE Job Fairs has become more than just a program. It’s a bridge — connecting dreams with possibilities,” Tan stated. “As we celebrate DOLE’s 92 years of service, we at SM reaffirm our commitment to this partnership — to continue providing platforms that empower, connect, and uplift the Filipino workforce.” 

This sentiment was echoed by Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing, who highlighted DOLE's long-standing role in shaping the country's workforce and SM's pride in being a "partner in progress".

Royston A. Cabunag, Assistant Vice President for Job Fairs and MSMEs, noted that malls have transformed into "community spaces" where talents meet companies, streamlining the hiring process so that applicants can often secure positions in a single day.

The Future of the Filipino Workforce

The event in Tuguegarao proved that SM Job Fairs are more than just events—they are gateways to livelihood. Applicants don't just submit resumes; they receive interviews, career guidance, and access to partner agencies all in one location.

As SM Supermalls celebrates 40 years of evolving with its customers, it continues to use its network of 89 malls nationwide to foster inclusive economic growth. Together with DOLE, they are expanding these initiatives to key regions, ensuring that the next Rachelle Navalta is just one job fair away from a life-changing "You're Hired".

The Roar of the Future: How the Global Youth Declaration is Rewriting the Rules of Survival

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

We stand at a precipice. The multilateral system—the very machinery designed to keep our world turning—is buckling under the weight of geopolitical fracture, deepening inequality, and a "widening trust deficit" between institutions and the people they serve. Amidst this chaos, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is accelerating, leaving the world off track on nearly all global goals.

But from this darkness emerges a lucid, thunderous roadmap for survival. The Global Youth Declaration on the Environment, presented by the Children and Youth Major Group (CYMG) to UNEP, is not merely a plea for help; it is a "collective call for urgent, ambitious, and inclusive environmental action". Representing over 2,000 organizations and 12,000 members worldwide, this document shatters the illusion that young people are waiting for the future to arrive. They are here, asserting themselves not just as victims of tomorrow, but as "present-day partners" ready to co-pilot the planet today.

Here is the dramatic blueprint for the "six interconnected transformations" demanded by the youth of the world to save our shared home.

I. The Governance Reckoning: Order from Chaos

The current environmental governance system is described as fragmented and disjointed, characterized by a "weak science-policy interface". The Declaration argues that we cannot fix a planetary crisis with a broken bureaucracy.

Shattering Silos: The youth demand an end to fragmentation by clustering Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and enhancing synergies, reducing the costly duplication that currently plagues the system.

Science as Sovereign: Policy must no longer be divorced from reality. The Declaration calls to "embed scientific evidence at the core of multilateral decision-making," ensuring that UNEP’s assessments inform every major UN process, from Rio COPs to financial bodies.

Harmonization: To stop the administrative bleed, we must harmonize reporting mechanisms and data architectures across international agreements.

II. The Equity Revolution: A Seat at the Table

For too long, youth have been sidelined by restrictive visa processes, lack of funding, and tokenism. The Declaration demands a shift from symbolic inclusion to institutional power.

Institutionalized Power: This is a call to institutionalize meaningful participation at all levels, including youth quotas and advisory bodies in national frameworks like NDCs and NAPs.

The Right to a Future: The youth demand the enforcement of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a "legally enforceable human right," integrated into constitutions and judicial systems worldwide.

Safety and Justice: Mechanisms must be strengthened to hold both state and non-state actors accountable for environmental degradation, ensuring access to justice for impacted communities.

III. The Economic Overhaul: Breaking the Debt Trap

Perhaps the most searing critique is reserved for the global financial architecture. The Declaration exposes a rigged system where Global South countries are "trapped in debt cycles," denied the fiscal space to save their own people.

Rewiring Finance: We must align the international financial architecture with sustainability. This means scaling up concessional finance and implementing innovative revenue sources like carbon and fossil fuel levies.

Beyond GDP: Domestically, governments are urged to abandon the archaic metric of GDP in favor of well-being metrics and to phase out harmful subsidies that fuel our own destruction.

Polluter Pays: A robust framework must be established where those responsible for pollution bear the "full costs of remediation and community care".

IV. Stopping the Extraction Engine

To survive, humanity must dismantle the "linear, extractive economic model" that treats the Earth as an infinite warehouse.

Just Energy Transition: The Declaration calls for an immediate halt to fossil fuel expansion and a commitment to a rapid phase-out, while ensuring support for the workers and communities left behind.

Binding Resource Treaty: A "binding critical minerals treaty" is demanded to enforce human rights and traceability, ending the era of unchecked exploitation.

Circular Design: We must enforce strict regulations to end "planned obsolescence" and mandate circular design, stopping waste before it is even created.

V. Confronting the Pollution Nightmare

With the collapse of recent negotiations deepening the crisis of trust, the youth are drawing a line in the sand regarding pollution.

Cap Production: The solution to plastic pollution isn't just recycling; it is a "legally binding plastics treaty that caps virgin plastic production" and eliminates toxic additives.

Chemical Safety: We must strengthen global conventions to phase out hazardous chemicals using a precautionary approach.

VI. The Nature Defense: Protect, Manage, Restore

Finally, the Declaration bridges the gap between high-level promises and the dirt-under-fingernails reality of local action.

The Hierarchy: A legal adoption of a "protect-manage-restore" hierarchy is proposed to prioritize the conservation of intact ecosystems above all else.

Indigenous Guardianship: Indigenous peoples and local communities must be "legally empowered as key custodians," ensuring their right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is respected.

The Final Verdict

The Global Youth Declaration is not a request; it is a "roadmap for transformative change". It asserts that if the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) wishes to remain relevant in the 21st century, it must recognize that "change is still possible" only if multilateralism is grounded in equity, accountability, and intergenerational justice.

The youth have mobilized. They have engaged in every region, from the Africa Youth Day in Nairobi to the Asia-Pacific Youth Environment Forum in Fiji. They have done the work. Now, the question remains: Will the current powers rise to meet them?