SM Prime, UNDRR commend women leaders in disaster resilience

For the second consecutive year, SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) commits to support the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience.

SMPHI is sponsoring Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”

“We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.

There were 15 shortlisted finalists from 420 nominations received from across 24 Asia-Pacific countries in the WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime. Pacific geo-hazards expert Esline Garaebiti & Indian researcher of river flood risk Dr. Homolata Borah were awarded top honours for achieving exceptional professional success in DRR at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane last September 21, 2022. Excellence award winner, Ms. Garaebiti is the Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management in Vanuatu, while Rising Star award winner Dr. Borah, works with communities on Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island where river erosion is an existential issue. The awards come with a cash prize to celebrate women's achievements in reducing disaster risk. There are two award categories – the Excellence Award, proudly sponsored by SM Prime Inc., worth US$10,000 and the Rising Star Award worth US$7,500.

The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

The Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”

Visit www.smprime.com for more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness.