Sunday, March 25, 2007 SM malls in Pampanga generate 7T jobs By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- SM’s two malls in Pampanga -- SM City Pampanga and SM City Clark -- have contributed significantly to the employment in the communities and nearby municipalities, creating some 7,000 jobs.
As of March 2007, SM public relations department said, the total number of employees at SM City Clark, both direct and indirect hires reached 3,804, approximately giving a 34 percent contribution to the jobs generated in Clark Special Economic Zone last year. This figure is composed of 42.4 percent employees of the SM Group of Companies, 49.3 per cent mall tenant employees, and 8.2 percent janitorial and security agency personnel.
Prior to its opening in May 2006, SM City Clark also held several jobs fair and interviews in cooperation with the provincial government, and the local government units of Angeles City and Mabalacat to encourage residents from the said areas to apply for positions needed for the full operations of the new mall.
SM City Pampanga, which marked its sixth year last November 2006, on one hand has also continuously become a major contributor to the employment boom in the province having a total number of 4,162 employees as of this month.
Approximately 75 percent of these are regular employees who are mostly from this city, Mexico, and other municipalities in the second and third districts of Pampanga.
More indirect jobs from soon-to-open tenants will be provided within this year with SM City Pampanga’s ongoing mall expansion that will be opened in September, SM management said.
Aside from being major sources of job opportunities within their areas, the two SM malls in the province have also been very active in conducting jobs fair through a strong tie-up with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole). Last year, at least five three-day jobs fair were held at SM City Pampanga and SM City Clark, gathering more than 1,000 jobseekers per day.
SM City Pampanga and SM City Clark are among the 28 SM Supermalls nationwide, both with SM Department Store as one of their major anchors. Other anchors of SM City Clark include SM Hypermarket, SM FoodCourt, and SM Cinema; while SM City Pampanga’s other main anchors are SM Supermarket, as well as SM FoodCourt and SM Cinema.
SM City Pampanga and SM City Clark offer one-stop shopping convenience with their wide variety of boutiques, shops, restaurants, fastfood chains, specialty shops, and relaxation centers. Regular mall shows which feature the hottest celebrities and artists, cultural shows, school events, beauty pageants, and community affairs shows.
Apart from bringing SM’s shopping, leisure, and entertainment excitement to the province, the two SM malls also sought to become part of the community. Participating in local festivals is one way that has brought it closer to the Kapampangans.
SM City Pampanga has played host to the world renowned Giant Lantern Festival for six years, and the Sinukwan Festival in 2002 and 2003. Meanwhile, SM City Clark also became the venue for Angeles City?s renowned festivities such as the Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan in October 2006, and the Sisig Festival last December.
SM City Clark has also become a breastfeeding-friendly mall with the opening of its Breastfeeding Station last November. The SM Breastfeeding Station is a joint project of SM Supermalls, Children for Breastfeeding and United Nations International Children’s Educational Fund (Unicef). Located at the second floor of the mall, the Breastfeeding Station is furnished with a couch, a sink, and a diaper changer.
The SM Management has also continuously uplifted the customer service standards of mall employees through different seminars focused on promoting a non-handicapping environment for persons with disabilities, and caring for special customers such as the elderly and the children. SM malls also organize its annual fire prevention and safety seminar in coincidence with the celebration of the Fire Prevention Month every March.
