SM Group opens 86th mall, reaches more communities

MANILA, Philippines — The SM Group is powering the growth of communities nationwide through the expansion of its network of shopping centers.

By widening the reach of its malls nationwide, SM said it is providing a venue for growth for many small and medium enterprises and communities.

“SM malls are venues for businesses to thrive and these provide linkages to adjacent and surrounding communities,” SM Supermalls president Steven Tan said.

“Our malls have transport terminals for better access to these areas. The malls also serve as a hub for different brands and enterprises both local and foreign, all of which support economic activity,” he said.

Committed to serving as a catalyst for local economic growth, SM expanded anew its network with the recent opening of SM City Caloocan, its 86th mall in the country.

SM City Caloocan will better connect surrounding urban and rural communities, sharing borders with Quezon City, Valenzuela and the cities of Marilao, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

SM said 80 percent of jobs in the new mall is filled by residents in the community and over 7,900 employees across its three Caloocan malls in various roles.

“With the opening of SM City Caloocan, we hope to bring more connections to more families in the North Caloocan community,” Tan said.

SM City Caloocan provides more than 94,000 square meters of gross floor area across three levels of mixed-use commercial space.

“Having three SM malls in Caloocan shows the trust of the community in the partnership with SM. It’s a trust that builds on the capacity and belief in our people that enhances the vibrancy of our local economy,” Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan said.

“There is a substantial economic impact in having SM Sangandaan, SM Grand Central and now, SM Caloocan in our city. Given the large workforce that mall operations entail, it has created jobs and more opportunities for our constituents,” he said.

After SM City Caloocan, SM Prime is scheduled to open three additional new malls this year, including SM City J Mall in Cebu, SM City San Fernando La Union and SM City Laoag.