With the adverse effects of the global economic crunch expected to hit the country hard next year, this landlocked city of 160,000 is looking forward to the opening of the SM Mall.

Slated to start operations by March, the mall is expected to require 4,000 workers.

Florencio Mongoso, manager of the Naga City Public Employment Service Office (Peso), said his office would do the initial processing of applications for 3,000 jobs for SM and another 1,000 jobs for locators inside the mall.

Mongoso said the office would ensure that job seekers have the required documents and skills in a Jobs Fair on Jan. 23-24 and Jan. 30-31 next year, the results of the initial processing will be forwarded to SM’s human resource department.

He estimated that some P12 million a month will be pumped into the local economy through salaries and wages. Another P40 million will come in the form of taxes to the city government.

Mongoso said the three-story SM Mall will cover 1.4-ha with a total floor area of 40,000 sq.m.

It will be set up in the new central business district of Naga City where the terminals of public utility vehicles are located.

He said the SM Mall is expected to draw clients from Camarines Norte, Albay, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon.