Cabanatuan home to 51st mall of firm

CABANATUAN CITY—One of the country’s biggest mall operators on Friday opened its 51st mall in the heart of this city.

SM Prime Holdings on Friday opened its newest mall here in a ceremony attended by city officials and top company officials led by Hans Sy, president and chief operating officer.

The SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, a four-level mall, used to be the Megacenter Mall, which was acquired by SM Prime Holdings in 2013 from the CHAS Realty and Development Corp.

The ceremony was also attended by Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara, SM Prime Holdings director Herbert Sy and SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia.

The mall spans five hectares and hosts 150 stores and homegrown establishments like Vicenticos, Cakeland and Joeys.

In a statement, SM said the new facility is protected by a high-end security system and manned by a security team that has undergone training to address problems raised by mall customers.

Later this year, a second SM mall will open along Maharlika Highway, about four kilometers north of the SM Megacenter Cabanatuan. Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon