The P1.4 billion SM Bacolod north wing expansion, that will almost double the size of the mall, will be inaugurated on October 16.

The inauguration will be led by SM Prime president Hans Sy, May Castro, SM Bacolod public relations manager, said yesterday.

The expanded area will create more than 2,000 new jobs, she added.

The new section of the mall will house the 4,500-seater SMX Convention Center, about 200 more retail stores for global and national brands, a bigger and better food court, a grand atrium, and a cyber zone, she said.

Upon completion of the three-level expansion, gross area will increase to 133,893 square meters, almost double the size of the original mall, Castro said.

The original part of the mall that cost P1.6 billion and opened on March 2007 has an area of 71,759 square meters, and currently employs about 3,000 people, she added.*CPG