Major shopping malls in quake-hit areas reopen

MANILA, Philippines - Operations of major shopping malls are back to normal in areas affected by the powerful earthquake on Tuesday.

No major damage was reported following thorough examination of the shopping malls, officials of the mall developers said yesterday.

“SM Cebu opened to shoppers at 12 noon, SM Consolacion at 1 p.m. after structural engineers cleared both malls to open and Cebu engineers did not find any material reason not to allow resumption of operation,” said SM Investments Corp. investor relations chief Corazon Guidote.

Roseann Coscolluela-Villegas, corporate public relations manager of Robinsons Land Corp., said all Robinsons malls in affected areas are operational. The company operates Robinsons Fuente and Robinsons Cybergate Cebu.

For Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), its Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park resumed operations Tuesday night, said Jorge Miguel Marco, head of ALI’s corporate communications department.

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu, Siquijor and Bohol on Tuesday, causing deaths and widespread damage to infrastructure.

The property firms ensured the safety of the structures prior to resuming operations.

Structural consultants have declared Ayala Center Cebu, which was closed on Tuesday for thorough inspection, structurally safe and sound, Marco said.

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