SM to build mall in Bohol

By Leo Udtohan

DONE DEAL. SM Supermalls’ Senior Vice President for Mall Operations Engr. Bien Mateo (4th from left) pays a courtesy visit to Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado (center) on Wednesday, Sept. 7, for the new construction of a new mall in the province to bring employment opportunities to Boholanos. Photo: Gov. Aris Aumentado Facebook

TAGBILARAN CITY- After longing for years, Boholanos will experience malling to higher level as the Henry Sy-led SM Supermalls will build a branch in the province.

Engr. Bien Mateo, Senior Vice President for Mall Operations, said on Wednesday, Sept. 7,  that the new construction will bring employment opportunities to Boholanos.

"We are welcome here in Bohol. We felt Bohol is business- friendly. That is important to us," said Mateo after their meeting with Gov. Aris Aumentado on Wednesday at the provincial Capitol.

The new mall will be located at the site near Camp Bernido in Barangay Dao in Tagbilaran City.

The construction of a new mall in the next four to five years in Bohol province has a potential to generate 3,000 jobs.

"Nasa pipeline development of SM Supermalls yung pagtatayo ng branch dito sa Bohol. We will coordinate closely with the Governor's Office for necessary things we need to comply with para maintindihan namin," said Mateo. "We are very happy to hear from the governor that we are welcome here in Bohol, investor -friendly ang provincial government.. A big factor for us to really expedite for development in Bohol."

DONE DEAL. SM Supermalls’ Senior Vice President for Mall Operations Engr. Bien Mateo (4th from left) pays a courtesy visit to Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado (center) on Wednesday, Sept. 7, for the new construction of a new mall in the province to bring employment opportunities to Boholanos. Photo: Gov. Aris Aumentado Facebook

Aumentado said Boholanos have been longing for SM Supermalls in the province. After his election, he has repeatedly encouraged businessmen to invest in the province including SM Supermalls.

"The deal is done in our meeting. Within four to five years, we will experience the services of the new mall," said Aumentado. "More big businesses will come. The economy will boom."

The SM Supermalls’ holding company, the SM Prime Holdings, Inc., had purchased at least 7 hectares in Tagbilaran. For a mall, it's a minimum of 4 hectares.  The estimated that each mall normally costs around P2 billion.

SM Supermalls has 79 malls nationwide,

and 25 more scheduled to be opened for an eventual total of 106 malls.

With a history spanning 60 years in the retail industry and over two decades in the shopping center business, SM Supermalls is a multi-faceted institution consisting of stores, malls, banks, residences, resorts, hotels, and business establishments.