MALL developer SM Prime Holdings  Inc. (SMPH) has expanded further its presence in the provinces as it will open today SM City Rosales, its first mall in Pangasinan.

Built at a cost of P650 million, the mall has a gross floor area (GFA) of 60,989 square meters (sq.m.) and stands on 121,685 sq.m. of land. Its leasable area is 43,235 sq.m. with major tenants, SM Department Store and SM Hypermarket, occupying16,686 sq.m. and 8,591 sq.m. of floor space, respectively. The SM Department Store, however, will open in April 2009. Other mall tenants include SM Appliance, Jollibee, McDonald’s, KFC, National Bookstore, Watsons, Ace Hardware and Timezone, among others. The mall’s amenities include a 973-sq.m. food court and parking slots for over 1,000 vehicles.

“Our expansion towards provincial markets continues with the opening of SM City Rosales. Rosales is a highly progressive municipality in Pangasinan with a large, productive agricultural base. It is also a take-off point to the major cities of Dagupan, Nueva Ecija and Baguio, which make the area highly accessible. As such, Rosales is an ideal location for an SM mall,” said company president Hans T. Sy.

He added the opening of SM City Rosales will provide employment to close to 1,500 people which includes direct and indirect employees.

SM City Rosales brings to 32 the total number of SM malls all over the country, with a combined GFA of 4.1 million sq.m. It is the second SM mall to open this year, after SM City Marikina, which was inaugurated in September.