SM Prime Holdings, a prominent property developer in the Philippines, has integrated extensive flood mitigation strategies into its mall designs to address the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters, particularly typhoons and heavy rainfall.
A notable example is SM City Marikina, constructed on 246 concrete stilts beside the Marikina River, an area prone to flooding. This elevated design allows floodwaters to flow beneath the structure, safeguarding the mall and its occupants during severe weather events. During Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009, which severely affected surrounding areas, SM City Marikina remained intact, serving as a refuge for those impacted by the disaster.
Similarly, SM City Cabanatuan incorporates a lower ground parking level that functions as a temporary flood catchment basin, exemplifying SM Prime’s commitment to resilient infrastructure.
Beyond individual structural designs, SM Prime has implemented rainwater catchment basins in 29 of its malls nationwide. These substantial underground tanks, comparable in size to swimming pools, collect and store rainwater from street level, mitigating flooding in surrounding communities. Collectively, these basins have a capacity of 85,400 cubic meters, equivalent to over 34 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
For instance, SM City Masinag’s rainwater catchment basin played a crucial role during Super Typhoon Carina (Gaemi) in July 2024, effectively managing the increased water volume by collecting 8,652.60 cubic meters of rainwater. In the latter half of 2024, SM malls prevented an estimated total of 46,405 cubic meters of rainwater—the volume of 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools—from flooding adjacent areas.
Residents have acknowledged these efforts. Gareth Aboy, a resident near SM City Masinag, expressed gratitude, stating, “Thank you for keeping your doors open for our immediate daily needs, your elevated parking spaces for our vehicles, and for keeping your water catchment basin open to help drain the water from our flood-prone village.”
SM Prime’s approach underscores the importance of disaster risk management and resilient infrastructure in the Philippines. By conducting hydrological surveys to assess flood susceptibility and investing in innovative design solutions, the company aims to protect communities and ensure business continuity amidst natural hazards.
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