Owning a home remains a faraway dream for a sizable portion of Filipinos. The current housing backlog in the country is estimated to be around 6.7 million homes—a statistic which could balloon to 22 million units if the issue is left unaddressed.
Addressing the housing backlog requires more than just building homes. The focus is shifting toward developing communities that are secure, economically stimulating, and sustainable.
SM Development Corporation (SMDC) has been unwavering in its commitment to providing modern-day Filipinos with access to luxurious urban living. With developments strategically located across key areas around Metro Manila and easily accessed by neighboring provinces, SMDC properties are designed to be innovative and to serve as catalysts for the enjoyment of a better quality of life. With more affordable housing, more Filipinos enjoy the conveniences and amenities of an upgraded lifestyle. Residential buildings are integrated into master-planned townships that provide easy access to essential goods, transport hubs, recreational and economic opportunities, and more.
SMDC has started expanding to fast-rising growth centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, introducing new formats to cater to the ever-evolving needs of homeowners.
Building Sustainable Cities
By employing an approach that factors in the elements of sustainability in economic activity, environmental stewardship, and social connectedness, the push for developing sustainable lifestyle cities in and beyond Metro Manila is in line with SMDC’s commitment to infuse the key principles of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) in its core business strategies and operations.
Sustainability is at the heart of every SMDC development. President Jose Mari Banzon explained how a holistic approach to sustainability is a key factor in all SMDC developments.
Banzon said: “In terms of our projects, our approach to sustainability is encompassing – from site selection, design considerations to reduce material wastage, and mechanisms for water efficiency and waste management. However, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond ‘green space’. By placing residential towers as part of integrated townships, we encourage walkability. With 40-50% of land area used in our developments used for open space, we provide safe places that enrich well-being among those in our communities.”
Communities are the lifeblood of SMDC developments. This underscores the company’s push towards the creation of living spaces that generations of homeowners can enjoy.
Elaborating his point, Banzon said: “All our projects meet standards in terms of resilience and minimizing environmental impact. By disaster-proofing our buildings, we help safeguard our communities against extreme weather events. Our building designs maximize fresh air flow, heat reduction through landscaping, and natural lighting – working alongside our use of energy-efficient fixtures to reduce consumption. These efforts all go together in the pursuit of truly sustainable design – making it more accessible to homeowners of today, and for those who will follow.”
By making luxury living affordable to more people, SMDC is providing more people with the opportunity to become homeowners in the process – positively impacting the housing shortfall by making it possible for more Filipinos to afford homes now, and in the generations to come.
To learn more about SMDC, visit https://www.smdc.com/.
