SM Prime Holdings Inc. sees Susana Heights in the southern Metro Manila as a key opportunity in its push into the premium residential segment, according to Vice President for Design, Innovation, and Strategy Jessica Sy.

Speaking on “The Sitdown” with Manila Bulletin’s Philip Cu-Unjieng, Sy said the estate has long been an underutilized asset as development expands southward.

Sy said parts of the estate were developed in earlier decades but that current conditions now support a more comprehensive development vision.

She cited the property’s greenery and natural surroundings as aligning with her interest in nature and community design, and pointed to the legacy of its original owner, Doña Susana Madrigal, as influencing its long-term direction.

“Sustainability is really about sustaining life,” she said. “We’re looking not just at the individual homeowner but at the interconnectivity of the people whose lives will revolve around this area.”

Sy said sustainability is being integrated into SM Prime developments from the outset rather than treated as an add-on.

“We’re moving toward a point where sustainability isn’t an add-on anymore,” she said. “It becomes part of the DNA of how developments are designed and built.”

She also said her role involves working across SM Prime’s residential, commercial, estate and mall businesses to identify synergies and share best practices.

Outside the company, Sy is involved with the Philippine chapter of ARISE, a global disaster risk reduction and resilience initiative, where she promotes collaboration among private and public sector stakeholders.

She said improved coordination among institutions could strengthen disaster preparedness in the Philippines.

“We have many capable organizations and institutions, but they don’t always work together as effectively as they could,” she said.