Iloilo City—With the recent opening of its P1.3-billion expansion, SM City Iloilo is now officially the biggest mall in Western Visayas region.
 
SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Steven Tan said that the mall’s north-wing expansion has increased its total land area to 170,000 square meters. This means that the total shopping area has grown to 93,079 square meters from 71,995 square meters.
 
The mall’s north-wing area contains an array of Filipino and international clothing stores as well as restaurants, beauty salons, tech stores, and banks.
 
SM is considered as the pioneer in transforming Mandurriao district here as the center of modern urban development when the mega-property opened SM City Iloilo in 1999.
 
For Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, the mall’s expansion is a genuine indication of the confidence of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. in the bullish growth of Iloilo City and neighboring areas.
 
Treñas said that the mall’s expansion is certain to bring more employment and a further boost to Iloilo’s local economy.
 
For SM Prime, Western Visayas region is a growing market.
 
“We’re very enthusiastic about this region. We really feel that it has still so much potential for growth,” said Tan.
 
Last November, 2014, SM Prime opened the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province. Adjacent to SM City Bacolod, SMX Convention Center hosted the two-day meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) last April.