- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The upcoming eight-storey, mixed use building of SM City Bacolod got a favorable action from the Sangguniang Panlungsod for endorsement to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
This was after the SP approved the passage of a resolution Feb. 22, favorably endorsing the project to the PEZA, more than three months following the letter-request of Julia Javellana, assistant mall manager, and noted by Girlie Liboon, regional operations manager for Visayas 3.
Councilor Al Victor Espino said at the SP session that a committee conference was conducted with the SM Group where plans to construct a Business Process Outsourcing/office tower and other businesses in the area were discussed.
Javellana, in her letter addressed to Mayor Alfredo Benitez on Nov. 16, 2022, sought the city’s endorsement “for the PEZA application of SM City Bacolod for our upcoming mixed use building at the northwing, which will include a carpark, BPO/office tower, and National University”.
“The whole SM property is already PEZA accredited but since we will be constructing a new 8-storey building…we need a new endorsement from the sanggunian and concurrence from your office,” she added.
Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, secretary to the mayor, endorsed the request to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the SP, adding the matter is within the discretion of the sanggunian”.
The SP, meanwhile, authorized Benitez to sign the proposed memorandum of agreement with SM Prime Holdings Inc., represented by president Steven Tan and assistant vice president Luz Kuizon, as well as National Bureau of Investigation director Medardo de Lemos, for a Government Service Express that caters to Bacolodnons and Negrenses at the mall.
The Government Service Express is a one-stop-shop in the mall for payment and processing services in various government agencies./CGC
